In this edition of Oppo Research, Hudson River Blue spoke with Dustyn Richardson of Bayou City Soccer to learn more about the Houston Dynamo, New York City FC's opponent on Wednesday night. Here is your NYCFC vs Houston preview.
• League Form: D-W-W-L-L
• Record: 4W, 5D, 6L | 17 points, 10th place
• Scoring Leader: Ezequiel Ponce, 4 goals
• Assist Leader: Griffin Dorsey, 4 assists
1. New signings are starting to click
Hudson River Blue: The Houston Dynamo lost two of its best players in the winter — Sebastián Ferreira and Héctor Herrera — but brought in Jack McGlynn, Ondrej Lingr, and others. The team has been up and down as of late, but how do you assess the team at nearly the halfway point of the regular season?
Dustyn Richardson: Not only did the team lose Herrera but they also lost Coco Carrasquilla and Micael. Carrasquilla is one of the best midfielders in Concacaf, and Micael was a Best XI-level defender last season. It’s been slower than expected to replace them, but they have seemed to have finally done it. With new pieces like Ondrej Lingr and Pablo Ortiz being integrated into the team, it seems the Dynamo are starting to find some rhythm.
2. Houston's new-look backline is working
HRB: Houston has six clean sheets this season, one shy of the league’s most, and has conceded 18 goals. How have new goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, loaned-in center-back Pablo Ortiz, and rookie defender Femi Awodesu made a difference already?
DR: Bond has been great — the Dynamo basically ran out of goalkeepers and had to bring him in from Watford. He made some big saves on Saturday in the 3-3 draw with San Jose that could have been a lot worse. Awodesu has basically been thrown into the fire this season, and he’s had his ups and downs. With Erik Sviatchenko battling injuries, Awodesu and Ortiz are starting to build a partnership.
3. Houston will try to slow the game down
HRB: NYCFC is undefeated against Houston in New York, but they haven’t faced each other in the Big Apple since 2019. How will playing at Yankee Stadium affect Houston’s game plan on Wednesday night?
DR: This is a question we have for Ben Olsen tomorrow, but I think they’ll try and do what they always do and hold onto the ball. The Dynamo want possession and to slow games down. Even at Yankee Stadium with smaller confines, I think they’ll want to keep the dangerous NYCFC attackers off the ball, if possible.
4. The X-Factor: Scoring the first goal
HRB: What's the X-factor that could decide this game?
DR: It sounds cliche, but if the Dynamo can get the first goal, it really plays into their hands. They let a lead slip against San Jose, but that Earthquakes team is such an anomaly. If the Dynamo go ahead, they’ll hold the ball even more and look to get guys like Artur and Brooklyn Raines passing it around to keep NYCFC frustrated.
5. Predicted score, Starting XI
HRB: Prediction time: Starting XI? Final score?
DR: The Dynamo have played better of late, and a draw in the Bronx would be a result, but if I had to predict, I’d say NYCFC wins 2-1.
