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MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo FC Open Two-Game Road Trip on Wednesday in Minnesota

May 16, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - Houston Dynamo FC open a two-game road trip on Wednesday when they face Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field. This is the first of two meetings between both teams this month with the Dynamo hosting the Loons on Tuesday, May 23 in the Round of 16 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

WHO: Houston Dynamo FC vs. Minnesota United FC

WHEN: Wednesday, May 17 - 7:30 p.m. CT

STREAM/TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

English: Callum Williams and Calen Carr

Spanish: Juan Arango and Carlos Suarez

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 look to bounce back after allowing their first goal at home in more than 530 minutes of league play this season. The Dynamo played with 10 men for 57 minutes against the Sounders following a video review of a challenge by forward Amine Bassi. The Dynamo played the final 12 minutes with nine players after midfielder Héctor Herrera received his second yellow card of the match. Seattle scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute, and Houston closed a three-game home stand with a 1-1-1 record in league and Open Cup play.

Both Bassi and Herrera will miss Wednesday's game due to a one-game suspension following Saturday's game. This is the second red card suspension for Herrera, who missed Houston's last road trip, a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls on April 15. This is the first suspension for Bassi and the first game he will miss since the season opener on Feb. 25. The 25-year-old missed the match against Cincinnati due to injury.

Houston looks to snap a five-game losing streak against the Loons. Minnesota won both matches in 2022 and swept the series in 2021. Houston enters the series with a 4-7-4 record (WLD) against Minnesota and the Dynamo last secured a point away from home in a 2-2 draw with the Loons on Oct. 18, 2020.

The Dynamo close the two-game road trip on Saturday, May 20 in Toyota Stadium when they face FC Dallas. The team returns to Shell Energy Stadium on May 23 to host Minnesota in the Open Cup and return to league play on May 27 when they host Austin FC. The Dynamo travel to Vancouver, Canada to close the month followed by a trip to St. Louis on June 3 for the first-ever MLS meeting with St. Louis CITY SC.

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

BARTLOW LEADS BACKLINE AGINST SEATTLE: Down a player, the Dynamo were tasked with containing one of the best teams in the Western Conference for nearly an hour before going down another man for an additional 12 minutes on Saturday. Defender Ethan Bartlow played a key role in that stretch, leading the team with six clearances. The 23-year-old made his debut last year after missing most of 2021 due to injury. Bartlow was thrust into the starting XI on April 2, 2022, following the absence of Tim Parker. Houston would go on to win that match and the following contest at home, a 4-3 triumph over the San Jose Earthquakes. He finished with 15 appearances and nine starts last season. This season, the Generation adidas defender looks to grow as he navigates his first season as the go-to centerback early in the year.

ESCOBAR AND BAIRD STRESS POINTS AWAY FROM HOME: Houston defender Franco Escobar looks to take Houston's defensive prowess on the road as the team navigates four road games in the next two weeks. The defender has played 562 minutes in seven appearances this season, contributing to three clean sheets and tallying 13 interceptions, 12 clearances and 22 tackles won. When asked about the upcoming two-game road trip, the two-time MLS Cup champion said, "The last game was a bit strange with two players sent off ... now we owe it to ourselves to earn points on the road and make up ground." On the offensive side of the ball, forward Corey Baird said the team is looking to implement what they have practiced in training during Wednesday's match. "We've talked about ideas on how to be a little more dangerous (in the final third), a little less side-to-side and playing with a little bit more width than we have in past games." Baird has earned 14 free kicks and won one penalty this year and has generated 17 shot-creating actions this season.

MINNESOTA IN NEED OF POINTS: Minnesota was held scoreless on Saturday in their 3-0 road loss to Sporting Kansas City. The loss extended the Loons' winless stretch in league play to six games. Minnesota defeated St. Louis CITY SC 1-0 on April 1 and went 0-5-1 (WLD) in the next six games. Despite the recent run of form, the squad, led by Adrian Heath, are tied for the ninth-best record in the Western Conference with a 3-5-3 record and 12 points, just two spots below the Dynamo in seventh place.

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