The Houston Dynamo will rely on their home-field advantage when they face the Seattle Sounders on Saturday in a Western Conference match.
Houston (2-2-0, 6 points) comes back from an international break after a 4-3 loss to FC Dallas on March 21. This was their only away game so far. They fell behind early but managed to tie the game with goals from Guilherme and Erik Sviatchenko, followed by a leading goal from Lawrence Ennali.
However, an own goal in the 54th minute shifted momentum. Things worsened when Sviatchenko received a second yellow card in the 68th minute, and the team ultimately lost after Dallas scored a fourth goal in the 86th minute.
Houston has been alternating between wins and losses this season, with Guilherme as the standout player, contributing four goals and three assists in the first four games.
“I’m optimistic. We need to keep improving, but we have players who can make things happen,” said Houston coach Ben Olson. “We’re scoring consistently, and overall, our defense has been solid. It takes time, and we will have ups and downs along the way.”
The Sounders (3-1-1, 10 points) travel to Houston after a goalless draw against Minnesota United on March 22. Seattle is currently on a three-match unbeaten streak and has not allowed a goal in the last three games, achieving four clean sheets in five matches.
Seattle will be missing midfielder Nikola Petkovic for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL suffered during training. Petkovic, who was on loan from Charlotte FC, had started six of Seattle’s seven matches this season.
“This is a significant loss for both him and the club,” said Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer. “He was starting to show his potential and was earning more playing time.”
Paul Rothrock is currently the leading scorer for Seattle with two goals. The team has scored only five goals but has allowed just two this season.
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