Houston to enjoy home comforts
Seattle are hoping to regain their early-season momentum and bounce back from a defeat to rivals Portland. Can the West Coast powerhouse win a trip to Houston as they take on the inconsistent Dynamo? Have a read of our preview here:
Seattle Sounders looking to find their rhythm
The Sounders have been solid this season in the MLS yet in the last game they fell to defeat against their West Coast neighbours the Portland Timbers. The game was typical of Seattle’s problems this campaign as they had the better of the game but were unable to make that pressure count.
It is part of the reason why they have struggled to keep their early dominance going after starting like a jackrabbit. They won five of their first six games this season, going undefeated in the opening six while losing only one match in a 13 game stretch yet June derailed them badly.
Four defeats in five saw them really struggle defensively as they conceded ten goals in those four losses. It didn’t help that they lost a number of key players to both the Gold Cup and the Copa America. The gaps in squad depth were all too apparent, though, in truth, most sides would have struggled to cope with the number of absentees the Sounders had to deal with.
Coach Brian Schmetzer will now be looking to get back into the rhythm that saw his side fly out of the traps but a trip to Houston will be a lot more difficult than the form suggests.
Houston Dynamo: Don’t be fooled by the form
The Texans are on a dreadful run of form. Looking at their last 13 games in isolation you’d be forgiven for thinking that Dynamo are a dead loss. They have won just three in that run losing eight and drawing only one.
It has seen them fall into the bottom six of the MLS form table and people could be forgiven for thinking that they will be an easy target for the travelling Sounders but…there is something you should know.
Houston have only lost once at home all season, winning eight of their 11 games and drawing the other three. In fact, Seattle are one of only three teams to take more points on their own ground than Dynamo in the MLS.
This could be a very tricky outing for Schmetzer’s men and with Wilmer Cabrera’s men desperate to push into the play-off spots it will be a pretty tense game.
Houston Dynamo v Seattle Sounders betting tip
Seattle can not be taken lightly but they do tend to struggle on the road. With Houston looking strong on their own soil backing both teams to score and Dynamo to win at odds of 11/4 would be a decent pick in this one.
