The Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo come into this game heading in effectively opposite directions. The Sounders are riding a four-game winning streak in which they’ve outscored their opponents 12-3, and can clinch a top 4 playoff spot with a win or tie. The Dynamo, meanwhile, have just two wins in their past 22 games and would be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss. Since these teams last met on July 7 — a 2-0 Sounders win — the Sounders have gone 10-5-1 while the Dynamo are 2-8-5.

To the degree that the Dynamo have had success, though, it’s been at home, where they are 5-3-6. That includes a 2-0-1 record in their past three, albeit with the two wins coming against fellow Texan bottom-dwellers Austin FC and FC Dallas.

The Sounders have historically struggled in Texas, but are 2-0-0 in the state this year and have won their last three trips to Houston in previous seasons (which includes a win in the 2017 playoffs). Further bolstering their hopes is the return of several internationals, at least three of whom should be capable of starting in this game.

Notes

• This is the Sounders’ first trip to Houston since July 27, 2019. The Sounders won that game 1-0, and although it was their second consecutive win in Houston, they had gone 0-4-4 there in their first eight regular-season trips.
• The Sounders come into this game riding an eight-game winning streak against the Dynamo in MLS play. The Dynamo last beat the Sounders in the 2017 regular-season opener, a 2-1 win on March 4, 2017.
• Although the Dynamo should have most of their internationals available, it’s notable that several logged heavy minutes. Darwin Ceren played in all three matches for El Salvador, Teenage Hadebe played in both matches for Zimbabwe, and Maynor Figueroa started the last two games for Honduras.
• The Sounders’ nine road wins are already tied for the most in franchise history, and one short of tying the MLS post-shootout record (Atlanta United won 10 road games in 2018).
• A win would also give the Sounders 60 points in a season for just the third time in their MLS history. They finished with 63 in 2011 and 64 in 2014.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle

OUT: Jordan Morris (ACL injury); Jordy Delem (right ACL tear); Nico Lodeiro (right knee surgery); Brad Smith (R AC Joint Sprain); Raul Ruidiaz (left hamstring pain); Yeimar Gomez Andrade (yellow-card accumulation)

Houston

OUT: Nico Lemoine (right groin); Adam Lundkvist (lower body)

SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: HOU: Boniek Garcia, Sam Junqua, Matias Vera ... SEA: Raul Ruidiaz

Officials

REF: Nima Saghafi; AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): Corey Rockwell; 4th: Rosendo Mendoza; VAR: Edvin Jurisevic; AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert

How to Watch

Match date/kickoff time: Saturday, 5:38 PM PT

Venue: PNC Stadium, Houston

Online Streaming: Amazon Prime (affiliate link, in-market), ESPN+ (affiliate link, out of market)

Local English TV: Fox13+ (Costigan, Keller, Zakuani)

Audio stream: SoundersFC.com (Costigan, Keller, Zakuani)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)

Lineups

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders at Houston Dynamo; watch with us

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