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MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Three Points: Houston Dynamo Open 15th Season against LA Galaxy at BBVA Stadium

February 28, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON - The Houston Dynamo return to MLS action on Saturday as they host Mexican international Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and the LA Galaxy at BBVA Stadium for Opening Day, presented by BBVA.

The Dynamo hit the field under the direction of Tab Ramos, who joined the club as the fourth full-time head coach in Oct. Ramos returns to the league as a coach after signing as the first player in league history in 1995. The U.S. Men's National Team legend returns to the club game after more than a decade in the national team program. Ramos accolades include multiple regional titles and back-to-back appearances in the FIFA U-20 World Cup featuring players like Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Paul Arriola and Matt Miazga, among others.

On the field, the Dynamo will look to replicate their form in the last meeting between these sides that saw the Dynamo defeat the Galaxy 4-2 on Decision Day at the end of the 2019 regular season. Forward Christian Ramirez finished with a brace, Memo Rodriguez cemented the victory with his second-half stoppage time goal and Alberth Elis tallied two assists and the equalizer against Guillermo Barros Schelotto's side.

The majority of the 2019 roster returns, but Ramos and Dynamo General Manager Matt Jordan addressed each line with a mix of veteran and promising acquisitions like defender Zarek Valentin and Academy product Marcelo Palomino. This group will look to lead the Dynamo back to the postseason since qualifying for the MLS Wester Conference final in 2017.

WHO:

Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy

WHEN:

Saturday, Feb. 29 - 2:30 p.m. CDT

TV:

Univision - Jose Luis Lopez Salido, Raul Guzman, Marcelo Balboa, Diego Balado and Ivan Kasanzew

RADIO:

Univision Radio 1010 AM - Daniel Mejia and Lester Gretsch

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

UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP - Tab Ramos makes his debut on the touchline after serving as the head coach of the United States Under-20 National Team since 2011 and as the U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director since 2013. Ramos joined the Dynamo in October and spent the offseason working with General Manager Matt Jordan to retool the roster across each line in search of a spot in the 2020 MLS Cup playoffs. Ramos is joined by assistant coaches Omid Namazi and Pablo Mastroeni. Namazi helped Ramos lead the U.S. to the 2017 Concacaf U-20 Champions as an assistant coach and was also appointed the head coach of the U.S. Men's U-18 National Team in 2016. Mastroeni served as the head coach of the Colorado Rapids from 2013 to 2017. The former Rapids midfielder led Colorado to their best regular season record of all time with a franchise record of 58 points in 2016.

QUINTERO OFFERS GAME-CHANGING SPARK -- The Dynamo made a statement with their first acquisition under Ramos as Houston acquired Darwin Quintero from Minnesota United. The Colombian forward finished with 21 goals and tallied 20 assists for the Loons in league play in two seasons with the club. Quintero joined Minnesota after nearly a decade in Mexico with Club Santos Laguna and Club América. Quintero won five trophies during his stint in Mexico and finished as the league's top goal scorer in the 2013 LigaMX Apertura season and the 2012-13 Concacaf Champions League tournament.

GALAXY RETOOL AFTER DECISION DAY - The LA Galaxy return to BBVA Stadium for a rematch of Decision Day, where they fell 4-2 to the Houston Dynamo on the final day of the 2019 regular season. Despite the loss, the Galaxy advanced to the 2019 MLS Cup playoffs and fell to Los Angeles Football Club in the Western Conference semifinals. Zlatan Ibrahimovic departed the club at the end of the season and the Galaxy signed Mexican international Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez to lead the LA frontline. Chicharito is Mexico's all-time leading goal scorer and returns to North America after nearly a decade in Europe. Hernandez scored 59 goals for Manchester United across four seasons and joined Real Madrid on loan in 2014. The forward returned to a more active role with Bundesliga side Bayern Leverkusen the following season and scored 39 goals in 76 appearances. Hernandez would also split time with West Ham United in England and Sevilla in Spain in his final two seasons in Europe.

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