Houston Dynamo vs. New England Revolution | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Houston Dynamo vs. New England Revolution
2018 MLS Regular Season – Week 5
BBVA Compass Stadium — Houston
8:30 pm ET – March 31, 2018
WATCH: MLS LIVE

The New England Revolution continue to show signs of improvement under Brad Friedel, with four points from their last two games, but those results were at “Fortress Foxboro” and now they will head to BBVA Compass Stadium to do what they only did once a year ago — win on the road.

The Houston Dynamo, who had a bye in Week 4, already matched their 2017 total in home losses after falling to Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 2-1, on March 10. Wilmer Cabrera’s squad then squandered a two-goal lead and settled for a 2-2 draw against D.C. United a week later.

Houston Dynamo

There might not have been a game, but the Dynamo kept busy during their bye week by landing defender Jared Watts from the Colorado Rapids for $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and also extended the contracts of Cabrera and general manager Matt Jordan.

“Matt and Wilmer have proven to be an excellent team who can deliver results. They are fully aligned as to the vision and plan for our club’s success," said Dynamo president Chris Canetti in a team statement. “As we look to the future, we have complete confidence in their collective ability to execute that vision and plan and lead us to our goals.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - A.J. DeLaGarza (torn ACL), M - Juan Davis Cabezas (left quad); QUESTIONABLE: D - Philippe Senderos (right hamstring)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Chris Seitz — Kevin Garcia, Adolfo Machado, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley — Eric Alexander, Darwin Ceren — Alberth Elis, Tomas Martinez, Andrew Wenger — Mauro Manotas

Notes: The Dynamo are tied for fifth in the league with seven goals this season. All seven goals have come in the first half of their games.

New England Revolution

The Revs' high press had NYCFC on their heels for the opening 20 minutes on Saturday and Diego Fagundez gave the hosts the deserved lead after 11 minutes. Fagundez and Cristian Penilla, who had an assist and hit the post and was named to the MLS Team of the Week presented by Audi for Week 4, terrorized the visitors and Juan Agudelo added a second goal in the 63rd minute.

Friedel’s squad extended their unbeaten streak at Gillette Stadium to 10 games, but left disappointed they didn’t take all three points. The Revs are unbeaten in their last five matches against the Dynamo (4W-1D) and have kept clean sheets in three of those five games.

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: M - Isaac Angking (illness)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Matt Turner — Andrew Farrell, Antonio Delamea, Claude Dielna, Gabriel Somi — Scott Caldwell, Wilfried Zahibo — Cristian Penilla, Diego Fagundez, Kelyn Rowe — Teal Bunbury

Notes: The Revolution have conceded four second-half goals, tied for the second most in the league this season. … New England have conceded in a franchise-worst 22 consecutive league road games, the third-longest streak in MLS since 2007. They have lost all but five of those matches (2W-3D).

All-Time Series

Overall: Houston Dynamo 5 wins, 25 goals … New England Revolution 11 wins, 33 goals … Ties 7
At Houston: Dynamo 3 wins, 13 goals … Revolution 6 wins, 14 goals … Ties 2
Last meeting at Houston: Houston Dynamo 3, New England Revolution 3 (March 6, 2016)