HOUSTON (May 31, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC travel to face the Portland Timbers on Saturday, June 1, with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT at Providence Park. Houston will be looking for its fourth consecutive win versus Portland after defeating the Timbers 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium in March.
Houston enters Saturday’s match eighth in the Western Conference with a 6-6-3 (WLD) record and 21 points. Head coach Ben Olsen will return for this match in Portland after serving a one-match suspension during Houston’s last match for yellow card accumulation.
The Dynamo will look to add on to their 3-1 win over Colorado on Wednesday night at Shell Energy Stadium that saw them sweep the season series with the Rapids. Houston netted three goals for the first time this season behind scores from forward Amine Bassi, midfielder Latif Blessing and forward Sebastian Kowalczyk. Bassi was named to the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday for his efforts.
Also named to the Team of the Matchday was goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, who had an historic night in goal for Houston on Wednesday. The veteran shot stopper tallied 10 saves to tie current general manager Pat Onstad’s single-match club record. His performance was highlighted by a double save in the 26th minute, diving to block the initial attempt from Rafael Navarro before getting up and diving again to stop a shot from Kévin Cabral at the near post. Tarbell made his second start of the season on Wednesday in relief of an injured Steve Clark.
Houston continues to boast one of the best defensive records so far this season, despite a shuffling back line that has seen seven players start due to injuries. The team has allowed just 16 goals across 15 matches this season, which is the fewest in the Western Conference and tied for the second fewest across MLS. Additionally, Houston leads the Western Conference with 57.9 percent possession across the season, allowing the Dynamo to control matches and dictate pace of play.
Portland enters Saturday’s match ninth in the Western Conference with a 5-7-4 (WLD) record and 19 points. The Timbers are coming off a 2-0 road victory over Austin FC after a goal from Evander, a penalty kick conversion from Jonathan Rodríguez and a penalty kick save from James Pantemis earned them first clean sheet of the season.
Houston will look to win its fourth consecutive match versus Portland on Saturday after defeating the Timbers 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium in March. Houston scored the winner in the 43rd minute when forward Aliyu Ibrahim was well positioned to capitalize on a loose ball for his second goal of the season.
The Dynamo will also be looking for their third win at Providence Park on Saturday, after defeating the Timbers 3-1 on Decision Day last season behind goals from defender Griffin Dorsey (brace) and midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla. In August last season, Houston slammed the Timbers 5-0 at Shell Energy Stadium behind goals from Bassi, forward Nelson Quiñónes, forward Corey Baird, defender Franco Escobar and defender Brad Smith.
After the June international break, the Dynamo travel to face Atlanta United FC on Saturday, June 15, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.
