Houston Dynamo FC host New England to close two-game homestand

Houston Dynamo FC close a two-game homestand on Tuesday against Bruce Arena and the New England Revolution. This is the first meeting between both teams since the 2019 season and the Dynamo look to build momentum after earning a draw against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.

The Dynamo played the bulk of the match with 10 men after captain Matias Vera received his second yellow card of the game in the 41st minute of the game. The defense was tested throughout the evening and limited Kansas City to two big chances from 20 shots and six shots on target. Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark finished with six saves and earned his 50th clean sheet in Major League Soccer. Clark has six clean sheets this season and needs two more to match his regular season record from the 2016 and 2014 season with the Columbus Crew.  

The backline played a key role in limiting Kansas City with numerous interventions throughout the match. Teenage Hadebe earned his first start since July 23, he finished with three interceptions. He joined Ethan Bartlow in the middle of the backline and the centerback duo combined for 18 clearances on Saturday. Adam Lundkvist led the team by winning five tackles and winning possession seven times.  

Offensively, Adalberto Carrasquilla led the charge with four chances created. Forward Fafa Picault finished with two shots on target and the final push came off the right foot of rookie forward Thor Ulfarsson who nearly scored in the final minutes of the match.  

The Revolution visit PNC Stadium for the first time since 2018. New England looks to bounce back after a 2-1 loss on the road to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. The Revolution currently sit in eighth place in the Eastern Conference just three points from a share of the seventh and final spot for the postseason. Bruce Arena’s squad has only earned four points from their last five games, so three points from this two-game stretch is key as they close the week at home against Club de Foot Montreal.  

Two familiar faces return to Houston this evening as A.J. DeLaGarza and Tommy McNamara return to PNC Stadium since departing in 2020. DeLaGarza joined the team in 2017 and played a key role in reaching the Western Conference final. McNamara joined the Dynamo in 2019 and made his debut against C.D. Guastatoya from Guatemala in the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.  

The Dynamo close the week in California as they face Los Angeles Football Club at 9:30 p.m. CDT. The match will air live in English on AT&T SportsNet Southwest and in Spanish on TeleXitos 47.2 The team returns to PNC Stadium for Decision Day on Oct. 9 to face Javier Hernandez and the LA Galaxy at 4 p.m. CT. Fans can get tickets to both remaining home matches of the 2022 season here.

Here are three key points ahead of Tuesday’s game:   

1. CARRASQUILLA FINDS NEW GEAR: Dynamo midfielder Coco Carrasquilla finished with four chances created on Saturday and the Panamanian international is no stranger to leading the charge forward. To date, Carrasquilla has created 33 chances, the second most on the team and the bulk of his passes have come in the opposing half, where he leads the team in that category. The team will look for more from the midfielder on Tuesday as they face a defense that has only allowed two goals in the last three games. The Revolution posted back-to-back clean sheets prior to falling 2-1 on Saturday in New Jersey. If one player on the Dynamo can unlock a defense it is the 23-year-old, who has posted 313 successful passes ending in the final third this season, three shy of the team leader Darwin Quintero.  
2. CLARK KEY IN FIRST POINT FOR BUNDY: Steve Clark earned his 50th clean sheet on Saturday and Houston has earned 12 points from the six shutouts the goalkeeper has posted this season. The goalkeeper has made key saves for the team throughout the year and he enters Tuesday’s match with one of the best save percentages in the league. To date, Clark has made 90 saves and is tied for the fourth most in the league. More importantly he has saved 70.6 percent of the shots faced, which is tied with Dayne St. Clair from Minnesota for the 10th best percentage in the league. 
3. REVOLUTION HIT FINAL STRETCH: The Revolution visit PNC Stadium prior to a two-game homestand against Montreal and Atlanta. New England look to inch closer to the top half of the Eastern Conference where a five-point swing could help the Revolution make a jump into fifth place. The Revolution will close the regular season on the road at Soldier Field against the Chicago Fire.