Houston Dynamo FC return to BBVA Stadium this evening to host the Portland Timbers for Soccer For All Night. Wednesday’s game is the second of three matches over an eight-day stretch following the international break.
Houston opened the three-game stretch on the road with a 1-1 draw against Los Angeles Football Club on Saturday. Maxi Urruti won the ball near midfield to spark the equalizer. The Argentine forward found Fafa Picault in space and the New York native dribbled past two defenders to find Urruti near the penalty spot for the equalizer. Picault tallied his third assist of the season and back-to-back assists for the Dynamo over a two-game stretch. Urruti also scored in his second consecutive game and leads the team in goals with five.
Houston looks to split the series with Portland on Wednesday after dropping the first meeting 2-1 in April. Tyler Pasher forced an own goal, but Houston’s push fell short at Providence Park. The Dynamo also look to snap a three-game losing streak against the Timbers that began in June 2019. Houston’s last victory in the series came at home with a 4-1 triumph on Sept. 15, 2018. The Dynamo enter the game with a 4-0-4 record against Portland at home.
The Timbers have won three out of their last four games this season and enter the match with a 4-4-0 record. Portland struggled at the beginning of the season as the Timbers navigated the Round of 16 and quarterfinals of the Concacaf Champions League. The Timbers defeated Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Saturday and that match marked the return of Sebastian Blanco. The Argentine playmaker missed six months due to a torn ACL suffered in 2020.
The Dynamo will travel this weekend to Utah to close the three-game stretch. Kickoff against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.
Here are three key points ahead of tonight’s game:
- DYNAMO WELCOME NEW MAJORITY OWNER & CHAIRMAN TED SEGAL: The Club announced Ted Segal as the new Majority Owner and Chairman yesterday at the Lexus Club in BBVA Stadium. Segal will attend BBVA Stadium for the first time as the Club’s Majority owner when the Dynamo take on Portland. “I'm going to throw myself into (making the Club successful) and work hard with both leagues to implement best practices, and all I can say is you have my commitment that I will be an active and involved owner in giving our organization the resources it has to succeed,” said Segal.
- DYNAMO LOOK TO SPLIT SERIES WITH TIMBERS: This is the second meeting of the season between both teams and the Timbers edged past Houston 2-1 at Providence Park in April. The Timbers enter the game in fifth place, two spots higher than the Dynamo in the Western Conference and look to build on their victory over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. The Dynamo look to remain unbeaten at home this season and against the Timbers, Houston enter the game with a 4-0-4 record against Portland in Houston.
- TIM PARKER RE-SIGNS WITH HOUSTON: A leader on and off the field, Dynamo defender Tim Parker signed a three-year extension earlier this week that will see him with the Club through 2024. The New York native joined the Dynamo in January 2021 and has since been a key piece in Houston’s backline. Parker has started in all nine appearances for Houston, wearing the captain's armband three times since joining this season. “Tim is in the prime of his career and we couldn’t be happier that he has chosen to be a part of our club and what we are building in Houston as a foundational piece of our group for years to come,” said Senior Vice President and General Manager Matt Jordan.
