Houston Dynamo v Minnesota United: Late losses adding ´insult to injury´, says Ramsay

Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay is hopeful they can bounce back after conceding another late goal when they travel to Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

The Loons are currently on a six-match losing streak, their worst such run in club history, which has seen them drop to 10th in the Western Conference.

Minnesota conceded a 90th-minute winner against LA Galaxy last weekend, leaving Ramsay frustrated at being unable to snap their poor streak.

“It’s coming down to exceptionally fine margins and what’s really tough at the moment is the performances aren’t too big a problem, but it’s at the end of a very tough month, so it adds insult to injury,” Ramsay said.

“I only take it one day at a time and try not to let the big picture loom too large. We’re in a difficult period so we need to alter our expectations from what they were a month ago.

“It’s a good learning curve for me as a young coach, and a test to stay positive and hope the results don’t influence the day-to-day so we can keep putting out a competitive team.”

Meanwhile, Houston sit two places and one point above their opponents, though their six-game unbeaten run was ended by a 3-2 defeat to Real Salt Lake.

Their previous match against Los Angeles FC was postponed due to bad weather, so after an extended break, head coach Ben Olsen is looking to improve on that performance.

“We looked a little bit unfocused, and I think we understood the task going into it, but on the pitch, we didn’t, and I don’t think I hammered that in enough,” Olsen said.

“We were lackadaisical, gave up poor goals, played into their hands. Not the greatest performance from us, but maybe we should’ve come away with something.”

Keeping our heads up and eyes forward@DrinkBODYARMOR | #MNUFC pic.twitter.com/QNyvTSSysu

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) July 11, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Ibrahim Aliyu

Ibrahim Aliyu has scored in back-to-back matches, taking his goal tally to a team-high six for the Dynamo this season.

The Nigerian has scored at least once in each of the last five months dating back to March.

Minnesota United – Teemu Pukki

Teemu Pukki scored his 13th MLS goal in Minnesota’s defeat to LA Galaxy on Sunday. Six of Pukki’s 13 goals have been scored in four career matches against the Galaxy, while he has scored seven times in his other 26 MLS appearances in total.

MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN

Houston have won two of their last three meetings with Minnesota in all competitions (lost one), including a 2-1 road win on April 13, after losing the previous six meetings. The Dynamo have never completed a single-season league double over Minnesota before.

However, Houston have won only four of their last 14 regular-season matches (drawn five, lost five), dating back to mid-April after winning four of their previous five games (L1).

Meanwhile, Minnesota have lost six straight matches for the first time in club history. The Loons had lost five of their previous 20 games dating back to the end of last season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 53.2%

Draw – 24%

Minnesota United – 22.9%