Houston Dynamo will clash against Austin FC at the Shell Energy Stadium in their MLS clash this weekend.
The hosts will be aiming to claim their first win in three games, while the visitors will be looking for back-to-back victories.
Match preview
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Having finished fifth in the Western Conference standings in 2024, the fans of Houston would have expected a fast start to the 2025 MLS season, but Ben Olson's men have endured a torrid beginning this term.
La Naranja will enter this fixture off the back of a 2-2 draw against Colorado Rapids at the Shell Energy Stadium last weekend.
The Orange took the lead 42 minutes into the encounter, but headed into the final stages trailing, after which Ondrej Lingr notched a stoppage-time leveller to ensure a share of the spoils for Olson's men.
That outcome leaves the home side second from bottom, with seven points from their first nine fixtures of the current campaign.
Having scored only eight times - a record which is the joint-third worst in the West - and 14 goals conceded so far, improvements will be needed at both ends of the pitch to reverse their dismal start to the season.
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After claiming three consecutive victories in March, Austin FC suffered a temporary setback, recording a draw and a defeat in their first two fixtures in April, before a 1-0 win over LA Galaxy last weekend ensured they claimed their first win in three matches.
At the start of April, the Los Verdes were held to a 0-0 draw by Portland Timbers, before a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of leaders Vancouver Whitecaps.
The latest triumph leaves the visitors second in the standings with 16 points, and are four points shy of Vancouver Whitecaps, who are dictating the pace in the West.
Although tied on 16 points with Minnesota United, the visiting side are second in the standings due to a superior goal difference and four points shy of Vancouver Whitecaps, who are dictating the pace in the West.
With Minnesota breathing down their neck, Nico Estevez's men cannot afford to slip up, as any outcome other than a victory could see the Black and Blue leapfrog the visiting side to climb to second in the table.
Team News
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Houston Dynamo will have to cope with the absence of several key players who are sidelined at the moment. The American duo of Jimmy Maurer and Duane Holmes continue their spells on the sidelines due to various injuries.
Lawrence Ennali is a long-term absentee, who has been on the mend from a cruciate ligament injury, while goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell has been missing in action since coming off injured in March.
Midfielder Junior Urso is a major doubt for this fixture, as he is currently recovering from an undisclosed injury.
Meanwhile, Austin are going to be without Mikkel Desler for this fixture, with the defender recuperating from a muscle problem, while Brendan Hines-Ike is suspended for this fixture after being sent off in Austin's last outing.
Brandon Vazquez, who scored the winner against LA Galaxy, is expected to lead the line, with support from Jader Obrian and Myrto Uzuni.
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Bond; Sviatchenko, Escobar, Awodesu, Dorsey; Artur, Raines; Kowalczyk, McGlynn, Bassi; Ponce
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Gallagher, Cascante, Svatok, Guilherme Biro; Wolff, Pereira, Sabovic, Bukari; Uzuni, Vazquez
We say: Houston Dynamo 1-2 Austin FC
After their initial struggles in April, Austin FC have returned to winning ways, and up against second-bottom Houston, they are in line for a win, and we predict a 2-1 victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
