Two sides separated by just one point and two places in the Western Conference standings go head to head on Saturday as Houston Dynamo play host to Minnesota United at the Shell Energy Stadium.
Having lost each of their six matches, the Loons are currently on the joint-longest losing streak in the league and will head into the weekend looking to end this dire run.
Match preview
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Houston Dynamo were sent crashing back to earth last Thursday as they suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against Real Salt Lake when the sides squared off at the America First Field.
The Claret and Cobalt turned in a fine attacking display in front of their home supporters as Andres Gomez, Diego Luna and Brian Ojeda all found the back of the net to hand them a deserved victory.
Prior to that, Houston Dynamo were on a six-game unbeaten run, claiming three draws and three wins, including back-to-back victories over DC United and Charlotte FC in their previous two outings.
The Orange Crush now return home, where they are on a run of five consecutive games without defeat in the league, claiming two wins and three draws, and have lost just one of their last eight matches since March 17.
Next up for Houston Dynamo is the challenge of a Minnesota United side who have enjoyed the better of this fixture, picking up 10 wins and three draws in their last 20 encounters since March 2017.
Since going on a run of four straight MLS home victories against Minnesota between October 2017 and September 2020, Ben Olsen's men have failed to win any of their subsequent four matches between the sides at the Shell Energy Stadium, including three defeats in their last three encounters.
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Eric Ramsay's side failed to stop the rot as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Los Angeles Galaxy when the sides squared off at the Dignity Health Sports Park on Monday.
After falling behind to Gabriel Pec's 25th-minute opener, Teemu Pukki struck in the 73rd minute to pull the visitors level, but Pec added his second of the game on the 90-minute mark to hand LA Galaxy all three points.
Minnesota have now suffered defeat in six games on the bounce since a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas on June 9, with their last victory coming on June 2, when they beat Sporting Kansas City 3-1 at Allianz Field.
Breaching opposing defences has not been a worry for the Loons, who have scored 35 league goals this season — the second-highest number of goals scored among the sides in the bottom half of the table.
However, their struggles had been owing to their defensive vulnerability as Minnesota have conceded 37 goals and failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 14 games since April's 3-0 victory over Charlotte FC.
Ramsay's men have picked up eight wins and five draws in their 22 MLS matches to collect 29 points and sit 10th in the Western Conference standings, one point and two places below Saturday's hosts.
Team News
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Houston Dynamo will have to cope without Argentine defender Franco Escobar, who will serve a one-game suspension after crossing the yellow-card threshold with his booking against Real Salt Lake last time out.
On the injury front, the Orange Crush remain without the services of Jefferson Valverde and 21-year-old forward Nelson Quinones, who has been sidelined through hip and knee injuries respectively.
Experienced defender Brad Smith was also absent from the game against Real Salt Lake after picking up a chest issue and the 30-year-old is a major doubt for Saturday's tie.
Minnesota United will take to the pitch without 35-year-old goalkeeper Clint Irwin, who is set to sit out his fifth consecutive game after sustaining an injury back in June.
American midfielder Wil Trapp has missed the last two matches through a leg injury while Spanish defender Hugo Bacharach continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in April.
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clark; Dorsey, Sviatchenko, Micael, Steres; Herrera, Artur; Blessing, Bassi, Aliyu; Ferreira
Minnesota United possible starting lineup:
Smir; Taylor, Boxall, Tapias, Padelford; Hlongwane, Bran, Dotson, Rosales; Lod, Jeong
We say: Houston Dynamo 2-0 Minnesota United
Houston Dynamo will be licking their lips ahead of Saturday's game as they take on an out-of-sorts Minnesota United side who have lost their last six matches. Olsen's men have been rock-solid at home, where they are unbeaten in seven of their last eight games, and we are tipping them to secure all three points this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
