The Seattle Sounders visit the Houston Dynamo on Saturday in the second and final meeting between the two sides during the 2019 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. PT at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Tex.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 10-6-5 (35 points, 3rd West), Dynamo: 9-9-3 (30 points, 8th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: LWWLW, Houston: WLLLW
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 9-4-6 all-time against the Dynamo, including a 1-4-4 mark on the road.
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Rave Green defeated the Dynamo 1-0 at CenturyLink Field on May 11. Hosting a Dynamo team that was in the midst of a rich fun of form, the Sounders jumped out to an early lead. Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan broke the deadlock with an MLS Goal of the Week candidate, picking out the top corner off a long-range volley. Houston generated a couple of chances in the second half, but Stefan Frei and the backline held on to preserve the clean sheet.
BOUNCE BACK: The team heads into the road match against Houston on the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Portland Timbers. Even though the Rave Green lost, if they can generate chances at the same clip as their last two outings, they should be able to pick up a result in Texas.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM: Historically speaking, the Sounders have struggled in South Texas, winning just once in nine regular season visits.
REWRITING HISTORY: The narrative around the team’s difficulty playing against Houston on the road has shifted in recent years, as the Rave Green picked wins at BBVA Compass Stadium in the 2017 playoffs and 2018 regular season.
RIDICULOUS RUIDÍAZ: Raúl Ruidíaz scored his eighth goal of the 2019 season on Sunday. In just 28 appearances across all competitions, Seattle’s Peruvian striker has already racked up 21 goals and three assists.
CLIMB THE TABLE: The LA Galaxy will visit the Timbers on July 27, just three days after their Leagues Cup fixture against Club Tijuana. A Sounders win in Houston combined with a Galaxy loss in Portland would lift Seattle back into second in the Western Conference standings.
- MONTHLY | Gustav Svensson is living the Swede life
KING GUSTAV: Seattle Sounders defensive midfielder Gustav Svensson has scored five goals in 76 MLS appearances across the regular season and playoffs. Two of those goals have come against the Dynamo in Houston.
SOMETHING’S GOT TO GIVE: Midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro’s service from the flanks was outstanding against the Timbers, as the Sounders playmaker racked up eight key passes. If the team can continue to generate chances from set pieces, the goals will start flowing.
