Two teams with contrasting starts to this Major League Soccer season will go head-to-head when Houston Dynamo welcome Minnesota United to the Shell Energy Stadium.
The hosts are without a win in their last two league games and sit second-bottom, while the visitors are second in the table and have won their last two games.
Match preview
After a 3-1 loss to Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo return to MLS action on a mission to snap a two-match losing streak and revive a season that has yet to take off.
Ben Olsen‘s men have managed just two wins from 12 league outings so far, leaving them second-bottom in the Western Conference with 10 points.
The Dynamo endured a winless start to the season, picking up only two points from their opening six matches, though a brief four-game unbeaten run, featuring two wins and two draws, raised hopes of a turnaround, back-to-back defeats have seen them slip again.
However, they will take encouragement from a 4-2 US Open Cup win over Phoenix Rising between those losses, hoping to rediscover that attacking spark against Minnesota.
Olsen will also lean on recent history for confidence, with Houston unbeaten in their last two against the Loons, one win and one draw.
Minnesota United, on the other hand, are flying high at the start of the season, sitting second in the Western Conference with 22 points, just five behind leaders Vancouver and are starting to look like serious contenders.
The Loons are on a three-game winning streak in all competitions, including two impressive MLS victories, and their last league outing saw them hammer Inter Miami 4-1, with Lionel Messi’s goal the only blemish on an otherwise dominant display.
After a solid 2024 campaign that ended in a playoff semi-final exit, Eric Ramsay‘s side seem poised to go even further this time, and winning three on the bounce will send a big statement.
Minnesota are unbeaten in their last two visits to the Shell Energy Stadium, picking up a 1-1 draw in their last trip, after a 3-0 win prior to that.
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Team News
Houston are dealing with three confirmed absences, with the trio of Lawrence Ennali, Nelson Quinones and Andrew Tarbell all out with knee issues.
The hosts have three players that are doubtful, with Duane Holmes (lower leg), Jimmy Maurer (lower body) and Erik Sviatchenko (lower body) all questionable.
Obafemi Fela Awodesu was sent off in the first half against Seattle Sounders, and he is suspended for this clash, while Franco Escobar is banned for yellow card accumulation.
Minnesota have their own injuries as well, with Hassani Dotson out with a knee issue and Owen Gene recovering from an ankle injury.
Twenty-four-year-old defender Kipp Keller is also confirmed to miss the game, as he looks to recover from a leg injury.
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Bond; Dorsey, Bartlow, Ortiz, Steres; McGlynn, Artur, Raines, Lingr; Bassi, Ponce
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
St Clair; Boxall, Romero, Diaz; Hlongwane, Harvey, Trapp, Markanich; Pereyra, Lod; Oluwaseyi
We say: Houston Dynamo 1-2 Minnesota United
Houston are still struggling to build momentum in this campaign, and they are coming up against a Minnesota side that are in form, and will be buoyed by their win over Inter Miami, which is why we are predicting an away win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
