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MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo FC Close Two-Game Road Trip on Saturday in Foxborough

March 3, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo FC close a two-game road trip to open the 2023 season this Saturday at Gillette Stadium against the New England Revolution. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and fans can stream the match for free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The match is also available on ESPN 97.5 FM in English with Glenn Davis and Bobby Boswell, or in Spanish on TUDN Deportes 93.3 FM with Daniel Mejia and Cesar Procel.

The Dynamo opened the season with a hard-fought 2-1 loss on the road against FC Cincinnati. The Dynamo conceded in the 19th minute and scored the equalizer in first half stoppage time off a set piece. Captain Hector Herrera found defender Tate Schmitt at the back post on a corner kick to send both sides into the locker room level at one. Schmitt was one of four players to make their Dynamo debut on Saturday. The 25-year-old joined the team on trial during the preseason and signed a contract on Feb. 17.

The Dynamo generated two big chances against Cincinnati on Saturday and maintained more than 60 percent of the possession. Houston only reached that mark once on the road in the regular season last year when they held 60.8 percent of the possession against the Portland Timbers on June 29. In addition to maintaining the ball Houston finished with 58 entries into the final third and seven shots on target. The team will look to capitalize on those entries this Saturday as they face a New England team that earned three points on Opening Day.

This is the first time the Dynamo visit Gillette Stadium since the 2019 season. Houston snapped a seven-game losing streak in the regular season series on Sept. 13, 2022, with a 3-1 triumph at home over the Revolution. This was the last meeting between both sides and Houston's sixth victory in the all-time series.

The Revolution opened the 2023 season with a dramatic 1-0 victory on the road over Charlotte FC. Henry Kessler scored in the 89th minute to give New England their first three points of the season. Djordje Petrović, a finalist for the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022, tallied his first clean sheet of the season and eighth in league play since making his debut in 2022.

Much like the opening game, Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen has deep ties to the opposition. Notably with Revolution head coach Bruce Arena, who coached Olsen as a teenager, at the University of Virginia and again with the U.S. Men's National Team. The relationship spans more than three decades and this will be the first match where both coaches share the touchline since the MLS Is Back Tournament in Florida at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The Dynamo will return to the newly renovated Shell Energy Stadium on March 18 for the home opener against Austin FC. Tickets for the match are available at HoustonDynamoFC.com.

Here are three key points ahead of Saturday's match:

NEW-LOOK MIDFIELD ON DISPLAY: The Dynamo midfield created eight chances against FC Cincinnati on Saturday in the opening game of the 2023 season. One of those chances came off the right foot of captain Héctor Herrera, who found defender Tate Schmitt for the opening goal of the season. Herrera also led the team in crosses with 12, more than half of those coming from set pieces. Defensively, the trio combined for 22 recoveries and won 25 duels throughout the match. The midfield will play a key role in breaking down a New England side that limited Charlotte FC to zero big chances and only four shots on target.

POSSESION WITH PURPOSE: Houston won the possession battle on Saturday and look to maximize their efficiency with the ball in the final third against the Revolution. Houston finished with 21 crosses and 58 entries into the final third. That generated seven shots on target and forced six saves from the Cincinnati goalkeeper. Ivan Franco forced three saves last Saturday and a noteworthy effort came in the first half when he forced a blocked shot and followed the rebound to win a corner kick with his second effort. The 22-year-old was one of two Dynamo players to finish the evening with a big chance created.

DYNAMO BACKLINE KEY IN TRANSITION: Dynamo defenders Tate Schmitt and Ethan Bartlow led the team with 10 recoveries each against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. The backline combined for 36 recoveries and finished with 34 passes in the final third. Houston will look to maximize possession won as they face a New England side that only conceded 16 goals at home last season, tied for the third fewest in the Eastern Conference.

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