THE BASICS
Houston Dynamo at New England Revolution
Saturday, August 15, 6:30 p.m. CT
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts
BROADCAST INFORMATION
ROOT SPORTS (Alternate Channel) - 6:30 p.m. (6:00 p.m. pregame) CHANNEL LISTINGS
TeleXitos - 6:30 p.m. (6:00 p.m. pregame) CHANNEL LISTINGS
Yahoo Sports Radio 1560 AM - 8:00 p.m. (7:30 p.m. pregame)
La Ranchera 850 AM / 101.7 FM - 8:00 p.m. (7:30 p.m. pregame)
PREVIEW
MLS Cup foes in back-to-back seasons once again separated into different conference, the New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo renew acquaintances when the clubs face off Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution return to action after a weekend off, now riding a three-game undefeated streak following a 3-1 home win against Toronto FC two weeks ago. The Dynamo have also put together three games on the trot without loss, coming off a 2-1 home win against the San Jose Earthquakes at BBVA Compass Stadium last Saturday evening.
REFEREE: Jose Carlos Rivero. AR1 (bench): Craig Lowry; AR2 (opposite): Mark Cahen; 4th: Robert Sibiga
MLS Career: 51 games; FC/gm: 26.7; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 12; pens: 25
INJURY REPORT, PRESENTED BY HOUSTON METHODIST (as of Thursday, August 13)
HOUSTON DYNAMO – OUT: Jermaine Taylor – R quad tear; DOUBTFUL: Rob Lovejoy – Right hamstring strain; Ricardo Clark – Left hamstring strain; Alexander López – Right groin strain
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION – OUT: Darrius Barnes – Left knee surgery
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- ALL-TIME (20 meetings): Revolution 9 wins, 26 goals ... Dynamo 5 wins, 22 goals ... Ties 6
- AT NEW ENGLAND (10 meetings): Revolution 3 wins, 15 goals ... Dynamo 2 wins, 12 goals ... Ties 5
- LAST YEAR (MLS): 3/8: HOU 4, NE 0 (Bruin 2, 13; Garcia 23; Cummings 92+); 4/12: NE 2, HOU 0 (Alston 68; Bengtson 91+); 10/16: HOU 1, NE 2 (Barnes 37 – Nguyen 65, 87)
- FUTURE MATCH: None.
- This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
- The teams met three times a season ago, the Dynamo winning the first before the Revolution won the next two, once at each ground. The Revolution won the only meeting at Gillette Stadium, a 2-0 victory on April 12 that was their first in Foxborough against the Dynamo since 2010.
- The Revolution have a winning record all-time in Houston, with six victories and a draw in 10 league matches there, including a 2-1 win in the final meeting at BBVA Compass Stadium last Oct. 16.
- Coaches record: Jay Heaps vs. HOU: P8 W3 L3 T2 ... Owen Coyle vs. NE: first game
HOUSTON DYNAMO
The Houston Dynamo stretched their undefeated run to three games, getting a late winner for a 2-1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo are in seventh place in the Western Conference with 31 points from 23 matches.
LAST MATCH
- The Dynamo took the lead in the 55th minute. DaMarcus Beasley picked up a long through from Giles Barnes, then cut through two defenders and raced into the area before slotting home his first goal for the Dynamo.
- The Quakes were then reduced to 10 men when Fatai Alashe was sent off by referee Fotis Bazakos for a second bookable offense after pulling back Barnes.
- But San Jose still pulled even in the 70th minute. San Jose fullback Shaun Francis headed a high, hopeful ball toward goal from just inside the box, but goalkeeper Joe Willis misplayed the ball and San Jose's Quincy Amarikwa snuck in behind and chested the ball into the net.
- The game-winner came seven minutes later. Fullback Sheanon Williams was freed on the right and drove a low cross into the goalmouth where Alex came charging down the middle of the field and punched home from close range.
- Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle made three changes to the team that came back for a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City at Sporting Park. Joe Willis came in between the posts for Tyler Deric, and Leonel Miranda and Luis Garrido started in the midfield for Ricardo Clark and Nathan Sturgis.
- HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-3-1-2): Joe Willis - Sheanon Williams, David Horst, Raul Rodriguez, DaMarcus Beasley - Leonel Miranda (Boniek Garcia 56), Luis Garrido, Alex (Rasheed Olabiyi 85) - Giles Barnes - Will Bruin (Erick Torres 78), Brad Davis.
TEAM NEWS
- The Dynamo extended their current undefeated run to three games (2-0-1), matching their season-long in league play, which they achieved on April 11-25 (1-0-2).
- It was also a second consecutive victory at BBVA Compass Stadium, extending their home undefeated run to five games dating back to May 16.
- Making his fifth consecutive start and his eighth consecutive appearance, Alex scored his second goal of the season, netting the game-winner.
- “We knew the qualities and technical abilities Alex Lima has,” head coach Owen Coyle said. “The only thing Alex was missing at that time was his fitness because he wasn’t playing as much at Chicago Fire. Day-by-day we’re building up the fitness ... and when Alex’s time was right we brought him in and we knew he would deliver on it.”
- Said Alex: “Nothing changed really. It was a different conference, different team. For me it was just working hard consistently, daily, and making sure I gave my all on the field. Once I got my opportunity it was a matter of taking full advantage of it and making sure that I kept being consistent week in and week out.”
- DaMarcus Beasley scored his first goal for the Dynamo – his first in the MLS regular season since Oct. 18, 2003, when he scored for the Chicago Fire, the last of his seven goals that season.
- “Everybody’s been on me that I haven’t scored yet,” Beasley said. “It was [a huge victory], If we go and have a good run and do our job we’ll be in the playoffs. We worry about what’s in this locker room and make our own destiny.”
- Making his first appearance for the Dynamo since June 5 after missing seven matches while on international duty with Honduras, Boniek Garcia collected his fourth assist of the season.
- Sheanon Williams recorded his first assist with the Dynamo, making a third consecutive start after his trade from Philadelphia Union.
- “If you saw [Alex’s] run from midfield, that’s what it’s all about,” Beasley said. “He’s very skillful and unselfish and he works hard for the team. He’s a two-way player, but you see some of the skills he has on the ball and it’s pretty amazing. He’s been a great addition to our team midseason. I’m happy for Alex, I’m happy for Sheanon who got a great assist. The front office staff has done really good work bringing in pieces to our team that’s going to help us.”
- Joe Willis stepped in between the posts, his second start of the league campaign, both within the last six matches, with Tyler Deric out due to injury.
