Red-Hot Houston Dynamo Look to Stay Rolling Against Struggling Austin FC
(image via Aldo Canale)
The Houston Dynamo will look for their third straight league win, and fourth win in a rown in all competitions, as they take on Austin FC tonight. Houston is coming off a 1-0 win over San Diego FC on Wednesday night. Austin also played midweek, losing 5-1 at San Jose.
When: Saturday, April 25 | 7:40 PM CT kickoff
Where: Q2 Stadium; Austin, Texas
TV/Stream: Apple TV
Ponce’s Last Dance?
With Ondrej Lingr suspended for tonight’s match after a late red card in the win over San Diego, it looks like Ezequiel Ponce could be inserted back into the starting lineup. The Argentine Designated Player has yet to score in league play this season and has just one goal in 2026, scored in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. If Ponce gets the start tonight, could this be his last chance to impress? Lingr has shown to be much more suited to the 4-4-2 the Dynamo have played recently while head coach Ben Olsen called Nick Markanich “possibly the best finisher of the group.” Ponce has a big contract and the DP tag but if he can’t start scoring goals, his days in Houston could be numbered.
Defensive 180
The Houston Dynamo were battered 6-2 by the Colorado Rapids on April 11. Since then, Houston conceded a wonder goal from Beto Avila of El Paso Locomotive and then posted back-to-back clean sheets in wins over Orlando and San Diego. Rookie Agustin Resch has impressed and getting Felipe Andrade back healthy has been key. They, alongside veterans Franco Negri and Antonio Carlos have started each of the two clean sheet victories. It seems the Dynamo have found something with this back four and it’s showing in the results.
Capital Concerns
Austin FC won their second match of the MLS season, 1-0 over D.C. United on March 1. Since then, Austin hasn’t won a match in any competition. They’ve drawn three and lost five, including being knocked out of the US Open Cup by USL Championship side Louisville City FC. The DP attack partnership of Myrto Uzuni and Facundo Torres has yet to gel and their other DP, Brandon Vazquez, is still out after suffering an ACL injury last season. Defensively, Austin have conceded 19 goals in nine games, the second-most in the Western Conference this season. It’s been a rough start for the Verde but they would love nothing more than to get things turned around against their in-state rival.
Houston Dynamo FC – Out: Lucas Halter (lower body), Ondrej Lingr (suspension); Questionable: Jack McGlynn (lower body)
Austin FC – Out: Dani Pereira (hamstring), Robert Taylor (knee), Brandon Vazquez (knee); Questionable: Owen Wolff (sports hernia)
Predicted Lineup
