HOUSTON (March 22, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC travel for their first road test of the MLS season, facing the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, March 23, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT. Dynamo 2 also hit the road for the first time in MLS NEXT Pro, traveling to face LAFC2 at Titan Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. CT.
WHO: | Houston Dynamo FC at Colorado Rapids
| Dynamo 2 at LAFC2 |
WHEN: | Saturday, March 23 – 8:30 p.m. CT | Sunday, March 24 – 3:00 p.m. CT |
STREAM/TV: | English: Neil Sika and Lloyd Sam
Spanish: Francisco X. Rivera and Diego Arrioja
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RADIO: | Spanish: TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Daniel Mejia and Cesar Procel)
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The Dynamo enter Saturday’s match after earning the club’s 200th MLS regular season victory, defeating the Portland Timbers 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium. The result also marked Houston’s first win of the season and their third consecutive victory over the Timbers. The Dynamo scored the winner in the 43rd minute following a spectacular cross from midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla. The cross was brought down by a Portland defender and forward Aliyu Ibrahim was well positioned to capitalize on the loose ball for his second goal of the season.
Prematch, the Dynamo recognized a career milestone for goalkeeper Steve Clark, who recently made his 250th MLS career start when Houston hosted the New York Red Bulls on March 2. The veteran goalkeeper recorded his first shoutout of the season versus Portland after tying the Dynamo all-time single-season record with 12 clean sheets last season.
Ibrahim will look to continue his good form to start the year after being involved in all three of Houston’s goals this season. In addition to scoring against Portland, the 22-year-old forward found the back of the net versus the New York Red Bulls, finishing a one-on-one opportunity at the far post. The Nigerian also provided the assist on forward Gabe Segal’s first goal for the club versus Sporting Kansas City that sealed a season-opening draw for Houston. Ibrahim also opened the year with an assist at St. Louis in the Concacaf Champions Cup, winning the ball outside of the box and finding midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk at the far post for the equalizer and his first goal for the Dynamo.
Colorado enters Saturday’s match one point ahead of Houston, sitting in seventh place in the Western Conference. The Rapids earned a 1-1 draw on the road against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday afternoon, netting a late equalizer to return home with four points in the past two road matches. Djordje Mihailovic’s bending set piece shot from outside of the penalty box in the 87th minute hit the near post and bounced once before an unmarked Kevin Cabral finished the chance for the goal.
The Dynamo hold an 11-15-13 (WLD) record versus the Rapids in all-time MLS regular season matchups. Houston took four points from Colorado on the way to finishing fourth in the Western Conference last season. The Dynamo earned a hard-fought scoreless draw in altitude at the Rapids in July, before convincingly defeating them 5-1 back in Houston in October to guarantee an Audi MLS Cup Playoff spot. Goal scorers that day included forward Nelson Quiñónes, who scored twice, forward Amine Bassi, forward Corey Baird and midfielder Artur.
Houston next returns to Shell Energy Stadium to host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, March 30, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for that match are available HERE.
