Houston Dynamo v Seattle Sounders: Olsen hopeful of replicating away form on home turf

Head coach Ben Olsen is hopeful Houston Dynamo can carry their recent form on the road into their clash with Seattle Sounders when they return to home turf on Thursday.

Houston are now unbeaten away from the Shell Energy Stadium in their last two games with draws against Atlanta United and Portland Timbers.

However, the hosts have won just three of their last 12 league matches, leaving them seventh in the Western Conference and level on points with Austin FC.

While Olsen was impressed with his side’s display in their most recent outing, he insists that his players must put on a better display this Thursday.

“The goals we conceded were fairly naive on our end,” Olsen said. “It was two poor giveaways that led to goals, and it is something we continue to have some issues with and not maximising the points when we play this well on the road.

“But again, then I switched to resiliency and being able to get something out of the game when it wasn’t our best night.

“We will take the point, we have Seattle now at home, and we need to get a better performance from myself and this group at home, but on the road we have been pretty good.”

The moments before -> after pic.twitter.com/qxtYh6RxBW

— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) June 16, 2024

Meanwhile, Seattle come into the contest following an impressive win over Minnesota United, recording their fifth triumph of the season.

The Sounders have not won consecutive regular-season matches since July 2023 but will be hopeful of doing so, having lost just once in their last five MLS games.

Just two points separate the sides in the Western Conference table, and Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer is confident his side can continue their winning momentum.

“We have evaluated the film, and we are going to get the guys recovered,” Schmetzer said.

“We are going to come up with a strong line-up because the gap between Saturday and Wednesday is certainly better than Wednesday and Saturday.

“So, we are going to go down to Houston to try and collect points.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Latif Blessing

Blessing’s 89th-minute equaliser against Atlanta on Saturday was his third goal in his last four matches in the MLS.

Prior to that, the midfielder had scored just three times in his previous 110 league matches for the Dynamo dating back to the start of the 2020 season, and he will be hoping to continue his hot streak in front of goal.

Seattle Sounders – Jordan Morris

The 29-year-old has scored four goals in his last five league matches, including finding the net in back-to-back matches.

Morris has scored in more than two straight league games only once in his career, a four-match run he managed to achieve in 2016.

MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN

Houston have recovered well after losing five of their last 12 league matches (D4 W3), and are now unbeaten in the last three matches (W1 D2), recording consecutive 2–2 draws in their previous two league games.

While their recent form in the MLS has left a lot to be desired, the Dynamo have an impressive record over their opponents heading into the contest at the Shell Energy Arena.

Seattle have won 12 of its last 13 meetings against the Dynamo (L1, incl. playoffs) dating back to June 2017. The Sounders have outscored Houston, 23 -6, during that run.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston – 48.1%

Draw – 25.9%

Seattle – 25.9%