Houston Dynamo FC travel to Quebec on Wednesday to close the regular season against Club de Foot Montreal. The match is scheduled to kickoff at 6:30 p.m. CT and fans can watch the game live on QuestTexas ch. 55 in English and TeleXitos ch. 47.2 in Spanish.
The Dynamo looks to close the regular season with a victory after falling 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids on Sunday at PNC Stadium. The Dynamo were held scoreless for the first time since their 3-0 loss to the LA Galaxy on Oct. 20. Houston looks to snap a three-game losing streak that began with the 3-0 loss against the Galaxy and earn their first victory away from home this season.
Dynamo defender Ian Hoffmann earned his first start of the season on Sunday and his fifth appearance of the season. Hoffmann and Joe Corona led the team with two key passes each and Hoffmann finished with five recoveries and one block. Dynamo head coach Tab Ramos gave Homegrown midfielder Juan Castilla his first opportunity with the First Team and the 17-year-old entered the match in the second half. Castilla is the youngest player to play for the Dynamo and he broke a record that was established in 2010 when Francisco Navas Cobo made his debut against Chivas USA.
This is the first meeting between both sides since the Dynamo earned a 2-1 victory at BBVA Stadium on March 9, 2019. Houston holds a slight edge in the all-time series against Montreal with a 7-6-1 record and the Dynamo aim for their first victory on the road against Montreal on Wednesday.
Montreal enters Wednesday’s game in the middle of a playoff race as they sit three points shy of the final playoff spot with two games left in the regular season. Montreal have stumbled to close the regular season with two victories in their last eight games and only one victory since Oct. 2. Montreal’s playoff aspirations took a hit on Saturday when they fell 1-0 on the road against the New York Red Bulls. Montreal close the regular season at home on Nov. 7 against Orlando City.
Here are three key points ahead of Wednesday’s game:
- DYNAMO ENTER NEW ERA: The Dynamo announced that Houston Dynamo legend Pat Onstad will return to the Club as General Manager on Monday. The 53-year-old returns to Houston after serving as an assistant coach, chief scout and technical director for three MLS teams since 2011, most recently as technical director and vice president of soccer operations for the Columbus Crew. Onstad helped build the roster that won the 2020 MLS Cup and the 2021 Campeones Cup. The former shot stopper was the face of the franchise when he joined former head coach Dominic Kinnear at Houston City Hall on Dec. 16, 2005 to announce the arrival of professional soccer to the Bayou City. Houston went on to win back-to-back MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007 and qualify for the postseason in four of Onstad’s five seasons with the Dynamo. Onstad delivered arguably the most important save in Dynamo history when he stopped New England’s final attempt in the penalty shootout to clinch the championship in 2006.
- NEW FACES PLAY BIGGER ROLE: Three players earned key minutes for their development on Sunday beginning with defender Alejandro Fuenmayor who finished tied for the most clearances with nine, one interception and two clearances. Ian Hoffmann earned his first start of the season on Sunday and finished tied for the most key passes with two. The 20-year-old also tallied five recoveries and one tackle in his first 90-minute shift. As the final minutes ticked down on Sunday Juan Castilla took the field for the first time as a professional player. The Dynamo Homegrown player is the youngest player to ever play for the Dynamo at 17 years, three months and four days.
- MONTREAL IN NEED OF POINTS: Club de Foot Montreal is three points shy from a share of the final playoff spot and qualifying for the postseason for the second consecutive year. Montreal finish the regular season at home beginning with Wednesday’s game against the Dynamo and Montreal close the season against Orlando City on Nov. 7. Montreal enters the final stretch with a 8-3-4 record at home and have scored 27 of their 44 goals at home. The Dynamo backline will be tasked with containing ex-Houston forward Romell Quioto, who leads the team with eight goals and adds two assists. Houston will also be tasked with limiting opportunities for Djordje Mihailovic who leads the team with 15 assists.
