Houston Dynamo FC close a three-game stretch against in-state rivals on Saturday when they host Austin FC at PNC Stadium. Houston opened the three-game stretch with a victory over Rio Grande Valley FC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on April 19. Houston traveled to north Texas last weekend and split a doubleheader with the first and second teams.
Houston will look to bounce back from their 2-1 loss against FC Dallas against their third in-state opponent in the last two weeks. Forward Sebastian Ferreira scored the first goal of the game on Saturday and his third of the season. The forward has now scored in two of his last three outings for the team. Defensively, Teenage Hadebewill be eligible for selection on Saturday after the defender missed Saturday’s Texas Derby due to a suspension following his red card against the Timbers on April 16. The centerback leads the backline with nine interceptions and leads the team with 23 clearances this season.
The Dynamo defeated Austin FC 3-0 in their lone meeting at PNC Stadium in 2021. Dynamo forward Fafa Picaultscored two goals against Austin in 2021 and became the first Dynamo player to score a goal against both FC Dallas and Austin in the same season. Both teams met in the preseason earlier this year and Austin won the match after an early stretch of goals in the first half. Houston is currently unbeaten at home in the regular season with a 2-0-3 record and the team earned their second clean sheet of the season in their last outing at PNC Stadium, a 0-0 draw with the Timbers on April 16.
Austin visits PNC Stadium after defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-0 at home on April 23. The second-year team has won three consecutive league games going into Saturday’s match and currently sits in second place in the Western Conference. The club was recently eliminated from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after losing to San Antonio FC last week. The Dynamo close the two-game regular season series against Austin FC on Tuesday, July 12 in the state capital.
The Dynamo travel to the nation’s capital next weekend to face D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday, May 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and fans can watch the game live on AT&T SportsNet in English or TeleXitos 47.2 in Spanish.
Here are three key points ahead of Saturday’s match:
- CITY OF SOCCER HONORS LOCAL TRAILBLAZERS: The Dynamo kicked off City of Soccer festivities earlier this week with the announcement that Jen Cooper and Jorge Figueroa will join the Orange Blazer Club as the class of 2022. The duo have dedicated themselves to the growth, promotion and development of the sport in Houston for decades. Cooper has spent more than two decades invested in the sport through her work with Rice University, local leagues, the Dynamo, National Women’s Soccer League and national broadcasters. Figueroa has spent nearly half a century expanding opportunities and access to soccer throughout the Houston community. The duo will be recognized at PNC Stadium in July as part of 713 Weekend.
- BRAD DAVIS RETURNS TO PNC STADIUM: Dynamo legend Brad Davis returns to Houston and PNC Stadium on Saturday for his first official visit since 2017. The two-time MLS Cup champion guided the Dynamo to seven postseason appearances in his 10-year stint with the team and he finished as the all-time regular season leader in games played (271), starts (252) and assists (104). Davis retired from professional soccer in 2016 after a stellar 15-year career. Davis will join Dynamo Charities later today at Cloverland Park to host a clinic as part of the Futbolito in the City program. The Dynamo legend will be available for interviews at the end of the clinic.
- FORWARDS RESPOND IN TEXAS DERBY: Sebastian Ferreira looks to score against his second in-state rival on Saturday after he scored the go-ahead goal in Saturday’s match against FC Dallas. The Paraguayan forward scored his third goal of the season and has now found the back of the net in two out of his last three outings. Ferreira will look to join his teammate Fafa Picault as attackers who have scored against both Texas MLS teams in the same season. Picault became the first Dynamo player to score against both Texas MLS teams in 2021. Picault scored twice against Austin FC in 2021 and finished with six goals against Houston’s in-state rivals.
