MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo FC Host Minnesota United FC for a Berth in Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

Published on May 22, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo FC host Minnesota United FC at 7:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, May 23 at Shell Energy Stadium to play for a spot in the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

WHO: Houston Dynamo FC vs. Minnesota United FC

WHEN: Tuesday, May 23 - 7:30 p.m. CT

Shell Energy Stadium

STREAM/TV: B/R App or B/R Football YouTube Channel

Play-by-play: Chris Wittyngham and Eric Dobrzanksi

Tuesday is the third meeting between both teams in the tournament in the Round of 16. Houston won the first meeting 1-0 in 2018 and would go on to win the title that year. Minnesota United won 3-2 the following year and reached the final, falling to Atlanta United in Georgia.

The Dynamo reached the Round of 16 with a 1-0 victory at Shell Energy Stadium over Sporting Kansas City on May 10. Houston tallied their sixth clean sheet at home and seventh of the year in all competitions. forward Thor Úlfarsson scored the lone goal of the match and his first of the year to secure Houston's spot in the next round.

Houston enters this match with a 4-5-3 (WLD) record in MLS play after Saturday's 1-1 draw in Frisco, Texas. Dallas took the lead in the 53rd minute off a free kick. The Dynamo equalized from a corner kick in the 85th minute when captain Héctor Herrera found Úlfarsson running onto the left side of the six-yard box whose glancing header found the net with the help of the far post. This was the forward's first goal of the season and second of the month.

The Dynamo hold a formidable 4-1-1 record at Shell Energy Stadium this season, while earning another victory against Sporting KC earlier this month in the Round of 32 of the U.S. Open Cup. Houston went 536 minutes without conceding a goal at home to start the 2023 season until falling to Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 on May 13 to an 87th minute goal when only nine Houston players were on the pitch.

Houston enters the series with a 4-8-4 (WLD) league record against Minnesota, and the Dynamo last avoided defeat by securing a point away from home in a 2-2 draw with the Loons on Oct. 18, 2020. The two clubs met in league play on May 17 in Minnesota, resulting in a 1-0 victory for the Loons.

Minnesota United advanced to the Round of 16 after defeating the Philadelphia Union in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw in regulation. The loons enter this match with a 5-5-3 (WLD) record in MLS play after defeating the Portland Timbers 1-0 on the road on Saturday.

The winner of Tuesday's match will advance to face the winner of Wednesday night's match between Austin FC and Chicago Fire FC in the quarterfinals on June 6 or 7. The winner of the Austin and Chicago match will host the quarterfinal match. Additionally, the winner of the Central Region will face the winner of the West Region in the semifinals.

The Dynamo return to league play on May 27 when they host Austin FC at Shell Energy Stadium. The match will be their seventh of eight during the month of May.

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

DYNAMO VERSUS MUFC IN USOC: Tuesday marks the third meeting between Houston and Minnesota in the Round of 16 of the U.S. Open Cup. On their way to winning the title in 2018, the Dynamo defeated the Loons 1-0 at home after Mauro Manotas scored the winning goal just after halftime, heading in Adam Lundqvist's corner kick for the Dynamo. Minnesota got late comeback revenge over the defending champions in Houston the following year, storming back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Dynamo 3-2 on a steamy evening in Houston. The "best-of-three" rematch is set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. CT at Shell Energy Stadium on Tuesday.

DYNAMO DEPTH PROVIDING KEY MINUTES: With eight matches in May, the schedule has asked Houston to add more players into the mix in both MLS and U.S. Open Cup play. In the previous round's Open Cup match versus Sporting KC, defender Brad smith made his first start for the Club, while five other players made their club debuts, including defender Mujeeb Murana, defender Djevencio van der Kust, midfielder Charles Auguste, forward Aliyu Ibrahim and defender Talen Maples. In recent MLS play defender Micael (vs. RSL 5/6) and forward Ibrahim Aliyu (at MIN 5/17) made their first league starts, while defender Chase Gasper made his first league start with Houston versus FC Dallas on Saturday. Earlier this season, Homegrown midfielder Brooklyn Raines earned his first MLS start when Houston hosted New York City FC. The 18-year-old scored his first career goal in Houston's 1-0 road win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup.

HOUSTON IN THE LATE ROUNDS: A win on Tuesday would mark Houston's seventh time advancing to the Quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup. Since the Club's inaugural season in 2006, the Dynamo have advanced to the Round of 16 or better eight times, the Quarterfinals or better six times and the Semifinals or better three times, including winning the trophy in 2018.

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