Houston Dynamo FC return to league play on Wednesday when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at Shell Energy Stadium. The Dynamo look to extend an unprecedented streak at home following a 10-game stretch with only two goals conceded in all competitions. Additionally, the club looks to build on back-to-back victories over the defending MSL Cup champions, LAFC, last week.
The Dynamo closed the two-game stretch against LAFC with a 1-0 victory at BMO Stadium last Wednesday. Micael scored the game-winning goal in the 23rd minute after defender Erik Sviatchenko forced a save at the near post. The 22-year-old Brazilian capitalized on the loose ball for his first goal for the first team. With the victory, the Dynamo have now won three out of their last five matches in all competitions and two of those games were away from home.
The Dynamo have scored 17 goals in their last seven games across all competitions and eight different players have scored in that stretch. At home, the Dynamo has outscored opponents 13-2 this campaign and the team enters with a 6-1-1 (WLD) record at home. Defensively, the team has earned 10 clean sheets this year (league and cup play) following the 1-0 victory over LAFC last Wednesday. This is the first time the team has hit double figures in that category since 2017 when the Dynamo earned eight clean sheets in regular season play plus two more in the postseason. Steve Clark has tallied seven clean sheets this season and needs to tally one more to reach his career high set in 2016 and 2014 with the Columbus Crew.
The ‘Quakes have won two out of their last four league games and played the Portland Timbers to a 0-0 draw at home on Saturday. That was only the fourth time the team was held scoreless this season. San Jose's offense is led by Cristian Espinoza and Jeremy Ebobisse, who combine for 15 goals this season. Ebobisse scored the lone goal in the victory over Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on May 31, the first road victory of the season for San Jose.
Houston looks to even the series following a 2-1 loss in San Jose on April 1. The match was decided from the penalty spot as both teams combined for three shots from the penalty mark. Amine Bassi scored the equalizer minutes before the end of the first half after Corey Baird suffered a foul inside the box. Espinoza finished with a brace and scored the game-winning goal 15 minutes into the second half after San Jose was awarded a penalty kick for a foul inside the box. The Dynamo enter with a lead in the all-time series with a 16-10-4 (WLD) record against San Jose.
The Dynamo travel to the state capital on Saturday to face Austin FC at Q2 Stadium. This is the third meeting of the season between both teams with Houston earning two victories at Shell Energy Stadium.
Here are three key points ahead of Wednesday’s match:
- DYNAMO DEFENSE AMONG BEST IN MLS HISTORY AT HOME: The Dynamo has made Shell Energy Stadium one of the most challenging venues for opponents to find the back of the net in all competitions this year. The team has only conceded two goals in their first 10 homes games across league (eight games) and U.S. Open Cup (two games) play, the best mark in MLS since the league began play in 1996. Two teams (2007 Chivas USA and 2008 Toronto FC) rival the new mark set by the Dynamo this year. The 2007 Chivas USA squad conceded four goals in their first 10 games at home in all competitions. The 2008 Toronto FC squad conceded three goals in 10 home games to start the year at BMO Field.
- DYNAMO CLOSE 39-DAY STRETCH WITH POINTS: The Dynamo closed a 12-game stretch with a 1-0 victory on the road over LAFC last Wednesday. The team finished with a 6-4-2 (WLD) record in that 39-day stretch and advanced to the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Defensively, the team earned a clean sheet in five of those games and look to continue that trend on Wednesday against a San Jose team that has scored eight goals in nine road games this season.
- DYNAMO NAVIGATE INTERNATIONAL WINDOW: Houston will be without midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla on Wednesday for the second consecutive game. The 24-year-old joined Panama for the semifinals of the Concacaf Nations League and will remain with the squad for the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup. Carrasquilla and the Canaleros will close the group stage in Houston against El Salvador on July 4 at Shell Energy Stadium.
