The Houston Dynamo FC travel to the Pacific Northwest on Saturday to face Portland Timbers FC at 9:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 24. Dynamo fans can watch the match live on QuestTexas ch. 55 in English or TeleXitos 47.2 in Spanish.
Saturday is the first road trip of the season for the Dynamo who opened the 2021 regular season with a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes at BBVA Stadium last Friday.
Five players made their debut with Houston and contributed to both Houston goals. Midfielder Joe Corona found Dynamo Academy Alum Memo Rodriguez in the first half for the opening goal of the MLS regular season. Tyler Pasher got his first MLS assist in the final 45 minutes of the game after he found Maxi Urruti inside the penalty box to double Houston’s lead. Center back Tim Parker logged a full 90-minute shift and midfielder Derrick Jones came off the bench to secure Houston’s first three points of the season.
Injuries to the backline forced Dynamo head coach Tab Ramos to shift his lineup on opening day where midfielder Boniek Garcia made his debut as a center back. Garcia finished with nine recoveries and his effort against the Earthquakes earned him MLSSoccer.com Team of the Week honors. The Dynamo backline will feature additional options this week as Alejandro Fuenmayor and Maynor Figueroa return to full-team training sessions.
The Dynamo backline will be tasked with containing one of the most potent front lines in MLS. Led by the South American trio of Diego Chara, Yimmy Chara and Diego Valeri the Timbers cruised to a 7-2 aggregate victory over CD Marathon in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 earlier this month. The Timbers opened the regular season on the road and fell 1-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday and look to bounce back in the first MLS game at Providence Park this season.
The Dynamo return to BBVA Stadium on Saturday, May 1 to host Carlos Vela and LAFC at 2:30 p.m.
<strong>WHO:</strong> |
<p>Houston Dynamo FC vs. Portland Timbers FC </p> |
<strong>WHEN:</strong> |
<p>Saturday, April 24 – 9:30 p.m. CT</p> |
<strong>TV:</strong> |
<p>QuestTexas ch. 55 (Glenn Davis, Eddie Robinson)</p><p>TeleXitos 47.2 (Alex Parra and Daniela Rodriguez)</p> |
<strong>RADIO:</strong> |
<p><strong>Spanish</strong>: TUDN Radio Houston 1010 AM (Daniel Mejia and Lester Gretsch)</p> |
Here are three key points ahead of Saturday’s game:
- PASHER GETS SECOND SHOT AT MLS: Forward Tyler Pasher was one of five new players to make their Dynamo debut last Friday and the winger returned to MLS competition for the first time since 2017. Pasher’s impact was felt throughout the game as he finished with an assist and five key passes, the most against the Earthquakes. Friday’s game was his first 90-minute shift in MLS after spending three seasons with Indy Eleven in the USL Championship. Pasher’s only MLS appearance came in 2017 with Sporting Kansas City in a 45-minute shift against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Since then, the forward scored 23 goals and finished with six assists in 50 appearances for Indy Eleven. Pasher’s breakout 2020 campaign opened the door to his arrival in Houston and the winger will be a key part of the Houston front line this weekend as the Dynamo visit Portland.
- HOMECOMING FOR VALENTIN: Zarek Valentin returns to Providence Park and the Pacific Northwest for the first time since the fall of 2019. The MLS veteran is entering his second season with the Dynamo after four seasons with the Timbers. The defender was scheduled to return to Portland on July 25, 2020 and that trip was postponed after MLS suspended league play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Valentin reached the 2018 MLS Cup final with the Timbers against Atlanta United and led the Timbers to three consecutive appearances in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs from 2017-2019. Off the field, Valentin is adored by the Timbers faithful for his community works and leadership throughout his tenure in Portland.
- TIMBERS OPEN THREE-GAME STRETCH AGAINST HOUSTON: The Timbers begin a seven day, three-game stretch on Saturday against the Dynamo. Following Saturday’s game the Timbers will host Club America in the quarterfinals of the Scotiabank Champions League on Wednesday, April 28. Portland will travel to Texas three days later to face FC Dallas in Frisco. The three-game stretch follows an opening day defeat against the Vancouver Whitecaps last Saturday in Utah. The Timbers will look to keep pace by earning their first points of the season. To date, only three of the five teams playing in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League have earned points this season. Toronto FC fell to Club de Foot Montreal last Saturday in Miami, Atlanta was held to a scoreless draw in Florida and the Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union played to a 0-0 draw. The Timbers aim to get their first goal of the season and join Toronto as the only two MLS teams competing in the regional tournament to find the back of the net.
