March 11, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Houston Dynamo FC News Release
Houston aim for their first victory of the season after falling on the road last Saturday in Kansas City. The Dynamo created some big chances against Kansas City last Saturday, but a loose ball fell to the local side to secure three points and hand the Dynamo their first loss of the season. The Whitecaps enter Saturday’s game winless after a scoreless draw with the reigning MLS Cup champions, New York City FC at BC Place on March 5.
Through two games, the Dynamo have been led by a stout back line that has conceded just one goal in 180 minutes of play against two teams that represented the Western Conference in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs last year. Houston’s 0.50 expected Goals Against (xGA) per game through two games ranks as the fourth best in MLS according to Second Spectrum.
Saturday’s match will be the third encounter with a team that qualified for the postseason in 2021. The Dynamo’s challenging schedule continues on March 19, when they meet Colorado Rapids, another 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoff team.
The Dynamo continue to integrate new faces into the team. In addition to a new first team coaching staff led by Paulo Nagamura, seven of this season’s 12 starters and 11 of the 17 players to feature for the first team have joined the club since 2021.
The Dynamo and the Whitecaps met three times in 2021 and Houston took the season series with a 1-0-2 record. The Dynamo earned a 2-1 victory over the Whitecaps at PNC Stadium on March 22 and traded draws with the Canadian side in the next two encounters. Houston enters the match with a 6-1-2 record at home against the Whitecaps and has outscored Vancouver 15-8 in the series at home.
A familiar face returns to PNC Stadium on Saturday as Ricardo Clark visits PNC Stadium as an assistant coach for the Whitecaps. The former Dynamo midfielder, who ranks second in Club history in appearances, starts and minutes played, joined the Whitecaps in 2021 following his time with the Dynamo Academy as a coach for the U-19 and U-16 teams.
The Dynamo will remain in Houston as they welcome the Colorado Rapids to PNC Stadium next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT. For tickets and additional information, visit HoustonDynamoFC.com.
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WHO:
Houston Dynamo FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
WHEN:
Saturday, March 12 – 5:30 p.m. CT
TV:
AT&T SportsNet
Glenn Davis, Eddie Robinson and Daniela Rodriguez
RADIO:
Spanish: TUDN Radio Houston 93.3 FM
Daniel Mejia and Cesar Procel
Here are three key points ahead of Saturday’s match:
DYNAMO OPEN KEY STRETCH AT HOME: The Dynamo will look to capitalize on a heavily weighted home schedule to open the 2022 season. Four of the next five Houston Dynamo FC matches will be played at PNC Stadium, including three more matches against 2021 MLS Playoff teams.
DYNAMO BUILD ON STRONG DEFENSIVE START TO SEASON: Despite opening the season against two 2021 MLS Playoff Teams, the Dynamo’s defense ranks as one of the top in the league, surrendering only one goal in two games and the fourth lowest xGA in MLS according to Second Spectrum. Dynamo will look to maintain a strong defensive record this weekend against Vancouver, another 2021 MLS Playoff team.
HOUSTON CONTINUES TO INTEGRATE NEW FACES: The first two games of the season continue to reflect Houston’s significant roster turnover over the past twelve months. Of the 17 players to feature this season for Houston Dynamo FC, five are new to the team (Clark, Ferreira, Steres, Ulfarsson, Zeca) and only four played in more than 2,000 minutes for the team last season (Parker, Picault, Valentin and Vera).
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