MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo FC Host Minnesota United FC Prior to Road Trip

Published on July 11, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo FC close a two-game homestand at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, July 12 against Minnesota United FC.

WHO: Houston Dynamo FC vs Minnesota United FC

WHEN: Wednesday, July 12 - 7:30 p.m. CT

STREAM/TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

English: Adrian Healey and Dan Gargan

Spanish: Adrian Garcia Márquez and Francisco Pinto

RADIO: ENGLISH: ESPN 97.5 FM (Glenn Davis and Bobby Boswell)

SPANISH: TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Daniel Mejia and Cesar Procel)

The Dynamo host Minnesota United FC for the second time this year, after earning a point versus Sporting Kansas City with a 2-2 draw at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday.

Houston looks to add on to that point from the weekend, after forward Iván Franco scored a 98th-minute equalizer for his second goal of the season. Forward Aliyu Ibrahim also scored his first career MLS goal in the 47th minute. Captain Héctor Herrera assisted on both goals, earning his fifth MLS Team of the Matchday selection this season. The Mexican international is tied for the second most assists in the league with nine.

The Dynamo enter the match with a 7-1-2 league record at home this season, while earning two additional victories at Shell Energy Stadium in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. One of those victories came against Minnesota United FC in the Round of 16. Forward Corey Baird netted three goals on the night to record the first hat trick of his career, and Ibrahim scored his first goal for the club to cap a 4-0 victory.

Minnesota leads the all-time series in the regular season with an 8-4-4 (WLD) record. However, Houston boasts a 4-2-2 (WLD) record versus the Loons at Shell Energy Stadium. Minnesota found victory in the last league meeting earlier this season, a 1-0 victory at Allianz Field on May 17.

Minnesota started July with a 4-1 home victory over Portland Timbers FC on July 1, followed by a 4-1 home defeat versus Austin FC on July 8. The Loons currently sit 11th in the Western Conference, four points behind the Dynamo, who sit inside the playoff line in eighth.

Houston next travels to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, July 15, for the first time this season, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT. That will be the team's final league match before kicking off Leagues Cup play at Orlando City SC on Friday, July 21.

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

IBRAHIM FINDS FIRST GOAL IN LEAGUE PLAY: Forward Aliyu Ibrahim scored three goals and tallied an assist in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup prior to scoring his first goal in regular season play on Saturday against Sporting Kansas City. His efforts have led the team to the semifinal of the Open Cup and he looks to extend that form to his role in league play. The 21-year-old has both generated and found himself in goal-scoring opportunities, he currently has the second highest XG on the team at 3.3 according to FBRef. He will be tasked with finding the back of the net on Wednesday and potentially again on Saturday against the Colorado Rapids.

HH REACHES CLUB MILESTONE: Dynamo captain Héctor Herrera has now tallied an assist in four consecutive games, becoming the second player in team history to reach that mark. Former Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis tallied an assist in four consecutive games during the 2014 season. Herrera has played a key role in the Dynamo's resurgence this season both on the offensive end with nine assists and defensively with 37 blocks, the highest mark on the team. The Dynamo captain will depart following Saturday's game to represent the club at the 2023 MLS All-Star Game, a first for the club since 2018.

MINNESOTA FIND NEW TARGET IN FINAL THIRD: The Loons recently announced the addition of Teemu Pukki as a designated player. The Finnish forward scored 88 goals and tallied 29 assists throughout five seasons with Norwich City. Pukki scored 10 goals and added eight assists in his final season with Norwich. The forward came off the bench in Minnesota's loss at home against Austin and will look to make an impact as the Loons sit one point away from the ninth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

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