HOUSTON (Aug. 20, 2026) – Houston Dynamo FC head coach Ben Olsen and defender Franco Negri were both named to the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday for Matchday 21, the league announced today. The selections are the first of the season for each.
The Dynamo moved into sole possession of first place in the MLS Western Conference on Wednesday night, defeating the previous leaders Vancouver Whitecaps FC by a 1-0 scoreline on the road for their fifth consecutive shutout victory, becoming just the third team in MLS history to accomplish that feat.
The Dynamo took the lead in the 34th minute when Negri fired a 75-mile-per-hour, tremendously powerful shot into the roof of the net from outside of the box. The strike marked the Argentinian’s first goal for the Dynamo.
Houston is the hottest team in the Western Conference over the past 14 matches, compiling a 10-2-2 record for 32 points over that stretch, while being undefeated over the last eight matches. On the defensive front, the Dynamo have not conceded a goal in 462 minutes, the second-longest streak for the Dynamo over the past decade.
Houston next wraps a two-match road trip on Saturday, Aug. 22, traveling to face St. Louis CITY SC at Energizer Park, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Fans can follow the action live via MLS on Apple TV.
