The Houston Dynamo will rely on their home-field advantage when they face the Seattle Sounders on Saturday in a Western Conference game.
Houston (2-2-0, 6 points) is returning from the international break after losing 4-3 to FC Dallas on March 21. This was their only away game so far. The Dynamo fell behind by two goals within the first 14 minutes but fought back, with Guilherme and Erik Sviatchenko scoring to level the match, and Lawrence Ennali later giving Houston a temporary lead.
However, an own goal in the 54th minute changed the match’s dynamics, especially after Sviatchenko received a second yellow card in the 68th minute. Houston struggled to recover and conceded a fourth goal in the 86th minute.
So far this season, the Dynamo have alternated between wins and losses. Guilherme is leading the team with four goals and three assists, having scored in three of the first four games.
“I am very optimistic. We need to keep improving, but we have players who can make a difference,” said Houston coach Ben Olson. “We are consistently scoring goals and have been solid defensively. Progress takes time, and there will be ups and downs along the way.”
The Sounders (3-1-1, 10 points) come into this match after a scoreless draw against Minnesota United on March 22. They are currently on a three-match unbeaten streak in the league, not allowing a goal in those games and achieving four clean sheets in five MLS matches.
Seattle will miss midfielder Nikola Petkovic for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL suffered during training on Saturday. Petkovic joined from Charlotte FC last winter and had started the match against Minnesota, playing in six of the Sounders’ seven matches this season.
“This is a significant loss for both him and the team,” said Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer. “He had been making progress and was showing his potential.”
Paul Rothrock is the Sounders’ leading scorer this season with two goals. The team has scored only five goals but has conceded just two.