Houston Dynamo FC host Portland Timbers FC, the reigning 2021 MLS Western Conference champions on Saturday at PNC Stadium to close a two-game homestand.
Houston Dynamo FC enters Saturday’s game against the defending Western Conference champion Portland Timbers with three victories in their last four games. With last Saturday’s 4-3 victory over San Jose, the Dynamo have earned 10 points from their last four games. Houston will look for their fourth victory of the year on Saturday as they welcome a Portland side that earned a road victory on April 9 at Vancouver. The Timbers are the fifth Dynamo opponent in seven games that qualified for the 2021 postseason.
Forward Sebastian Ferreira scored his first two goals of the season on Saturday, earning himself a spot in the MLS Team of the Week. Ferreira is the fourth forward to score this season and the second attacker to finish with a brace for the team and the second in as many games. Forward Fafa Picault scored twice in Houston’s 3-1 victory over Inter Miami CF on April 2. Picault added his first assist of the season last Saturday when he set up Ferreira for his second goal of the evening.
The backline also contributed to the final score courtesy of left back Adam Lundkvist and center back Teenage Hadebe. Lundkvist recorded his first assist of the season when his corner kick found Ferreira inside the box for the opening goal of the game. Hadebe scored his first goal for the club to put Houston ahead 3-2 early in the second half.
The Dynamo enter the match with a 4-1-5 record against the Timbers at home and look for their first victory over Portland at home since a 4-1 triumph on Sept. 15, 2018.
The Dynamo face a quick turnaround as they host the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros on Tuesday evening in the Third Round of the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Houston will then travel to north Texas to face FC Dallas at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 23.
Here are three key points ahead of Saturday’s match:
- KEEP THE ATTACK HUMMING: Dynamo forward Sebastian Ferreira finished with a brace last Saturday and forward Fafa Picault did so the week before. Meanwhile, forward Darwin Quintero leads the team with four goals. The trio will look to remain hot against a Portland backline that has conceded 13 goals, the second-most in the Western Conference so far this season. Houston has exploded offensively over the last two weeks. The Dynamo have scored seven goals in their last two games and are now tied for the second-most goals scored in the conference with 10.
- DYNAMO AIM FOR SIX-POINT SATURDAY: The Dynamo will host their first doubleheader featuring the first and second teams on Saturday. Both teams will face their counterparts from Portland, and Houston Dynamo 2 will make its debut at PNC Stadium. Dynamo 2 is led by head coach Kenny Bundy and the team is undefeated to start the season and atop the MLS NEXT Pro table at 3-0-0. Dynamo 2 will play the remainder of their home games at AVEVA Stadium and tickets are available for all matches starting at $7.
- PORTLAND EARN KEY POINTS AWAY FROM HOME: Portland will look for back-to-back victories away from home on Saturday after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-2 last weekend. Yimmi Chara scored the eventual game-winner for the reigning conference champions in Vancouver and led the team to their first victory since March 12. Portland was held winless by FC Dallas, Orlando City SC and the LA Galaxy in the last month and finished with a 0-2-1 record against those teams. Portland’s first victory of the season was a 1-0 triumph over Austin FC on March 12 at Providence Park.
