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MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo FC Face Tampa Bay Rowdies in U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday

April 25, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo FC begin play in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, April 26 when they travel to Florida to face the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 6:30 p.m. CT.

WHO: Houston Dynamo FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies

WHEN: Wednesday, April 26 - 6:30 p.m. CT

Al Lang Stadium

Wednesday's match will mark the 16th edition of the tournament to feature the Dynamo. The club won the competition in 2018 after they defeated the Philadelphia Union in the final in downtown Houston. That was the third domestic trophy for the Dynamo and the first since back-to-back MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007.

Houston enters the match with a three-game unbeaten streak after they defeated Inter Miami CF 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday. Defender Daniel Steres scored the game-winning goal and earned both Man of the Match honors and a spot on the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday. The goal began with an intricate sequence in the buildup that was capped by a well-placed header from forward Corey Baird into the path of Steres.

With the victory, the Dynamo have now won four consecutive games at home for the first time since the 2019 season. The triumphs also marked the first time in league history that a team opened their home slate with four consecutive clean sheet victories.

Tampa Bay returns to Al Lang Stadium after a narrow, 1-0 defeat, on the road against San Diego Loyal on Sunday. Three regular contributors missed the match due to injury or excused absences. Lewis Hilton missed the match after sustaining an injury in warmups in San Diego. Jake Areman and Forrest Lasso did not travel with the team to Southern California.

The Rowdies reached the Third Round of the tournament in 2022, falling to Orlando City SC. The team would reach the Eastern Conference final of the USL Championship that year, falling to Louisville City. The Rowdies currently sit in 11th place in the Eastern Conference after playing seven games this season. The team has one victory in their last five outings and looks to build momentum before they travel to Michigan this weekend to face Detroit City FC.

The Dynamo return to league play on May 6 when they host Real Salt Lake at Shell Energy Stadium.

Here are three key points ahead of the U.S. Open Cup match on Wednesday: ‚ ‚ ‚

DYNAMO IN USOC: The Dynamo enter Wednesday's game with a 20-14 record in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The team won their first two matches of the tournament in 2022 and lost in the Round of 16 at Children's Mercy Park against Sporting Kansas City. The team has found success in their opening game of the tournament since 2013, going on an eight-game winning streak in their debut of the tournament since that edition of the tournament.

OLSEN ON USOC: Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen has found success in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup both as a player and coach. Olsen was on the D.C. United team that won the competition in 2008 as a player and led D.C. United to the trophy again in 2013 as a head coach. Olsen, in his first year with the Dynamo, looks to build off the success at home this season and expects the best from a Tampa Bay side that will face an MLS opponent at home for the first time in nearly a decade. In his post-training availability on Monday Olsen said, "It's a great tournament. Every year, it gives you a chance to test your depth because you can't always play the same team on Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday. Especially in the early rounds, you're using some depth pieces that need games and rhythm. But if you dig down too much into that depth, these USL teams can beat you because their energy level and commitment to play an MLS team is turned up. That's the reality of these games. If you don't match that energy and fight, you get in trouble because there's a lot of talent."

DYNAMO NAVIGATE SHORT WEEK: The Dynamo returns to league play on May 6 after Major League Soccer moved their match against LAFC, originally scheduled for April 29, to June 14. Houston will navigate their second bye week of the season much earlier than anticipated and look to maintain their run of form at home after the 1-0 victory over Miami on April 22. Houston will close a two-game stretch at home on May 13 when they host Seattle Sounders FC. Three of the next four games will be away from home for the Dynamo who travel to Minnesota, Dallas and Vancouver next month.

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