The Dynamo travel to Red Bull Arena for the first time since the 2018 season on Saturday for their first meeting with the New York Red Bulls since 2019. The Dynamo last faced the Red Bulls in Houston on July 3, 2019, and earned three points after a 4-0 victory.
Houston earned their third victory of the season last Saturday with a 3-0 victory over the LA Galaxy. Captain Héctor Herrera scored the opening goal of the match off a set piece, his second goal of the year. Forward Amine Bassi finished with a brace and scored in his fourth consecutive game. He converted a penalty kick in the second half, his fourth consecutive goal from the spot in as many games, a new MLS record. Bassi and defender Franco Escobar earned MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday honors following their performance against the Galaxy.
Defensively, goalkeeper Steve Clark earned his third shutout of the season. Clark finished with three saves as he tallied his 53rd clean sheet in league play.
The Red Bulls opened a two-game homestand with a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes. Tom Barlow scored in the final minutes of the match to secure a point for the Red Bulls. That was the fifth goal scored by the team this season and the Red Bulls are tied for the second fewest goals scored in the Eastern Conference. The team will be without forward Dante Vanzeir after he used a racial slur during the match against the ‘Quakes. The league opened an investigation into the incident and additional information will follow.
The team is looking for their first victory since a 2-1 triumph over the Columbus Crew on March 18 at home. The team has missed midfielder Lewis Morgan with a hip injury since March 11. Morgan led the team in goals last season with 14 and tallied four assists. Luquinhas also missed the match against the Earthquakes and is recovering from an adductor injury.
The Dynamo return to Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, April 22 to host Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami at 7:30 p.m. CT. Houston will then begin play in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup when they visit Florida on April 26 to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Dynamo close the month in California three days later when they face LAFC.
