27 September 2024

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC v. HOUSTON DYNAMO

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Dinamo Houston, formerly known as San Jose Earthquakes, visit The Evergreen for an MLS top-10 showdown. Oh, here we go.


What: MLS league match, Seattle Sounders FC v. Houston Dynamo.


Where: Royal Brougham Park, Occidental Avenue, Seattle, Washington.


When: 7:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 28 September 2024 CE.


At Stake: A victory over Houston would assure MLS Cup qualification. Should we draw, we are dependent on the results of Dallas v. Orlando, where Dallas must lose or draw, and possibly Austin v. Salt Lake in order to secure qualification. Aside from that, any points earned at this stage would only affect seeding in the tournament. For us to be displaced from the tournament would require an absolute collapse on our part.


Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.


Where to Listen: KJR 99.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM.


Dinamo Houston have irritated me by removing the white elements of their kit so that I can no longer refer to them as the Creamsicles. This injures me in a way that is hard to express in words.


Sounders must face Houston, still, and that, my brothers and sisters, is where we come in. Whether you’re at the ground, at the pub, or at a mate’s house or flat, it’s time to make some noise. I mean an obscene amount of noise. Look after each other. Tie your scarves proper. Be present. Be loud. The Brougham Faithful won’t let the side down. I expect the usual level of flag-waving, singing, chanting, and general carrying-on. That should hearten the lads, who could use a bit of chuffing up. Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s time to put the Houston to the sword.


It’s MLS football under the Saturday night lights of Royal Brougham Park. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!


Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”


I present to you the 1978 Houston Hurricane. Founded 1978. Dissolved 1980.

You’ve come a long way…Baby.


The Good News

Sounders are unbeaten in their last three in the league. We have a record of 9-1-2 in our last 13 matches in the league and a home record of 12-6-4 in all competitions.


Jordan Morris’ finishing has come ‘round, as he hit a brace against the Quakes last match. Granted there was a pretty fair amount of luck involved, but that’s part of the game. When the ball bounces your way and you can bash it into the net it counts the same as if it were a scorcher from outside the box or from a perfectly executed cross or one-two.


Last time Allen Chapman was Referee for us, we won at Portland, 1:2. That’s got to be a good omen, yeh?


Jordan Morris leads the line for us with 13 goals this season. Ruidiaz and Rusnak have eight each. Rusnak leads the squad in assists with 13, Vargas is next with seven.


Standout Sounders left-centre-half Jackson Ragen has been signed to a three-years contract. I wonder if he’s gotten a well-deserved raise from the roughly €88,000/year he was making that had MLS executives vote him as ‘Best Value Contract’. This is a smart contract extension as Ragen is dead-reliable in the centre of defence.


We haven’t been shut out since 31 August and our 1:0 defeat at Morrison Street. That’s something that’s getting better. It had been a problem earlier in the season.


The Bad News

Houston have an 8-3-6 record when away from their Dowling Street ground. That’s a pretty decent away record.


Houston haven’t lost a match since 24 August, when they were defeated 0:1 by Toronto. Since 29 May, Houston have only lost twice in the league (8-6-2).


Houston have played markedly better against the teams we struggle with. Specifically the better teams in the league. They’ve had better results against Kansas City, Portland, Colorado, San Jose, DC United, Salt Lake, Vancouver, and LAFC. So there’s that to consider.


There are extremely marginal differences between the sides in goals scored (SEA +0.14/match) and conceded (HOU 0.05 less/match). We’ll be looking in the mirror when we play this one.


One thing I noticed from the San Jose match and other matches this season is that our movement off the ball is not very good. Our players make a pass and kind of stare at the person they passed the football to. There are often not multiple passing options available for the player on the ball. This is also a function of deficient player movement. This issue needs to be sorted in training.


We have a nasty habit of giving up late goals. Sometimes that late goal is the equaliser. Other times it’s the goal that sinks us. It has to end. This must get sorted in training.


We have been shut out 10 times in all competitions, by Austin, LA Galaxy (twice), Dallas, Vancouver, Salt Lake, LAFC (thrice), and Portland. Although we’ve gotten better at scoring goals of late, and statistically we’re more likely to score two goals than concede two, it’s important to point this out.


The Side I Would Select

I’d have this lot in the team.


Rationale: The Gaffer has made it pretty clear this is his team, plus or minus one or two players. With MLS Cup looming, it’s time to start preparing.


GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM    Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     de la Vega

CF     Morris


The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

This seems like a safe bet.


GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM    Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     de la Vega

CF     Morris


Intangibles

The Referee for Saturday night’s match will be Allen Chapman.

Sounders FC record in matches with Chapman as Ref: 13-5-8

Houston record in matches with Chapman as Ref: 12-6-10


General notes on personnel

Houston transfers IN:

Dorsey - re-signed

Gyamfi - draft

Sargeant - draft

Gregus (Minnesota United FC) free

Segal (New York City FC) undisclosed fee

Sylla - draft

Blessing (Toronto FC) €253,000

Gaines (Nashville SC) €70,000

Valverde (LDU Quito) undisclosed fee

Ponce (AEK Athens) €9M

Ennali (Gornik Zabrze) €2.75M

Arzu (Real Espana) undisclosed fee

Moreno (Al-Hazem) free


Houston transfers OUT:

Achara - reserves

Auguste - released

Avila (Sporting Kansas City Reserves) free

Hadebe (Konyaspor) free

Murana (Birmingham Legion) free

Rios - released

Vera (Olimpia Asuncion) free

Franco (Libertad) end of loan

Baird (FC Cincinnati) free

Ulfarsson (Debreceni VSC) undisclosed fee

Gasper (Chicago Fire) undisclosed fee


Comparison against common opponents

SKC 2:1 SEA

SEA 2:0 SKC

HOU 1:1 SKC

SKC 1:2 HOU

(against SKC: SEA 1-0-1 +1, HOU 1-1-0 +1) edge HOU


POR 1:2 SEA

POR 1:0 SEA

HOU 1:0 POR

POR 2:2 HOU

(against POR: SEA 1-0-1 0, HOU 1-1-0 +1) edge HOU


SEA 1:1 COL

COL 0:1 HOU

HOU 3:1 COL

(against COL: SEA 0-1-0 0, HOU 2-0-0 +4) edge HOU


SJ 3:2 SEA

SEA 2:2 SJ

HOU 2:1 SJ

SJ 0:1 HOU

(against SJ: SEA 0-1-1 -1, HOU 2-0-0 +2) edge HOU


SEA 2:1 CHI

CHI 2:1 HOU

(against CHI: SEA 1-0-0 +1, HOU 0-0-1 -1) edge SEA


SEA 2:0 MIN

SEA 2:0 MIN LC

MIN 2:3 SEA

MIN 1:2 HOU

HOU 1:1 MIN

(against MIN: SEA 3-0-0 +5, HOU 1-1-0 +1) edge SEA


SEA 0:0 ATX

ATX 0:1 SEA

HOU 0:1 ATX

ATX 0:1 HOU

(against ATX: SEA 1-1-0 +1, HOU 1-0-1 0) edge SEA


DAL 0:0 SEA

SEA 3:2 DAL

DAL 2:0 HOU

HOU 1:1 DAL

(against DAL: SEA 1-1-0 +1, HOU 0-1-1 -2) edge SEA


STL 1:2 SEA

SEA 2:0 STL

HOU 0:0 STL

STL 2:1 HOU CCC

HOU 1:0 STL CCC

(against STL: SEA 2-0-0 +3, HOU 1-1-1 0) edge SEA


LAG 1:0 SEA

SEA 0:0 LAG
SEA 3:1 LAG LC

LAG 2:1 HOU

(against LAG: SEA 1-1-1 +1, HOU 0-0-1 -1) edge SEA


DC 2:1 SEA

DC 1:4 HOU

(against DC: SEA 0-0-1 -1, HOU 1-0-0 +3) edge HOU


RSL 2:0 SEA

SEA 1:1 RSL

RSL 3:2 HOU

HOU 3:0 RSL LC

HOU 4:1 RSL

(against RSL: SEA 0-1-1 -2, HOU 2-0-1 +5) edge HOU


SEA 0:2 VAN

SEA 1:1 VAN

VAN 3:4 HOU

HOU 1:1 VAN

(against VAN: SEA 0-1-1 -2, HOU 1-1-0 +1) edge HOU


LAFC 2:1 SEA

SEA 0:3 LAFC

SEA 0:3 LAFC LC

SEA 0:1 LAFC USOC

LAFC 0:2 HOU

HOU 0:0 LAFC

(against LAFC: SEA 0-0-4 -8, HOU 1-1-0 +2) edge HOU


CLB 0:4 SEA* *CLB had ½ team and field player as goalie

HOU 0:1 CLB CCC

CLB 1:1 HOU CCC

(against CLB: SEA 1-0-0 +4, HOU 0-1-1 -1) Data tainted, comparison not possible


Know Thine Enemy

Dinamo Houston as they lined up in their 0:1 defeat against Austin at McKalla Place on 21 September.


GOALKEEPER

Steve Clark, 38

United States

Notable Clubs: Michigan Bucks (51/0), Honefoss (94/0), Columbus Crew SC (100/0), AC Horsens (11/0), DC United (5/0), Portland Timbers (74/0), Houston Dynamo (93/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €200,000

Notes: Played his university football for Oakland (58/0). Won a Norwegian second division title with Honefoss BK. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.


DEFENCE

Franco Escobar, 29

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Newell’s Old Boys (41/0), Atlanta United FC (63/2), Los Angeles FC (19/1), Houston Dynamo (49/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by Newell’s Old Boys. Won an MLS Cup, US Open Cup, and Campeones Cup with Atlanta United. Won an MLS league title and MLS Cup double with Los Angeles FC. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.


Micael, 24

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Atletico Mineiro (2/0), Houston Dynamo (54/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €850,000

Notes: Full name: Micael dos Santos Silva. Developed by Inter de Limeira and Atletico Mineiro. Won a Brazillian league title, Copa do Brasil, and a Supercopa do Brasil with Atletico Mineiro. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.


Erik Sviatchenko, 32

Denmark (5/1)

Notable Clubs: Midtjylland (254/25), Celtic (42/1), Houston Dynamo (44/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by Viborg FF, Houlkaer IF, Sondermarken, FK Viborg, and Midtjylland. Won three Danish Superliga titles and two Danish Cups with Midtjylland. Won two Scottish Premierships, a Scottish Cup, and two Scottish League Cups with Celtic. Named Danish Superliga Player of the Year 2019-20. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.


Griffin Dorsey, 25

United States

Notable Clubs: Toronto FC (2/0), Houston Dynamo (95/9)

Estimated Transfer Value: €650,000

Notes: Developed by Colorado Rush SC. Played his university football for Indiana (44/8). Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.


MIDFIELD

Artur, 28

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Sao Paulo FC (4/0), Columbus Crew SC (138/2), Houston Dynamo (64/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Full name: Jose Artur de Lima Junior. Developed by Bahia, Juventus-SC, and Sao Paulo. Won an MLS Cup and Campeones Cup with Columbus Crew SC. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.


Amine Bassi, 26

Morocco

Notable Clubs: AS Nancy (106/24), FC Metz (9/0), Barnsley (15/2), Houston Dynamo (56/13)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4.5M

Notes: Developed by US Bezons, Racing Club de France, Epinal, and AS Nancy. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.


Adalberto Carrasquilla, 25

Panama (59/2)

Notable Clubs: Tauro (86/4), Cartagena (46/1), Houston Dynamo (91/9)

Estimated Transfer Value: €4.5M

Notes: Won two Panamanian league titles with Tauro. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo. Won CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Ball 2023. Named to CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI 2023. Named to CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI.


FORWARD

Ibrahim Aliyu, 22

Nigeria

Notable Clubs: Lokomotiva Zagreb (79/14), Houston Dynamo (54/9)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Oasis FC, Footwork FC, and Lokomotiva Zagreb. Played for Nigeria U20s (4/0). Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo.


Ezequiel Ponce, 27

Argentina

Notable Clubs: Newell’s Old Boys (27/5), Granada (25/2), Lille (32/2), AEK Athens (56/31), Spartak Moscow (59/19), Elche (47/5), Houston Dynamo (7/3)

Estimated Transfer Value: €7M

Notes: Developed by Newell’s Old Boys.


Sebastian Kowalczyk, 26

Poland

Notable Clubs: Pogon Szczecin (169/19), Houston Dynamo (37/4)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1.2M

Notes: Developed by Salos Szczecin and Pogon Szczecin. Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo (although he played no matches in that 2023 tournament).


Familiar Faces

Houston defender Daniel Steres was selected by the Sounders FC in the 2012 MLS Waiver Draft. Steres never played a match for the first-team.


Houston defender Ethan Bartlow played his university football for Washington.


Houston and Australia defender Brad Smith played with the Sounders FC (63/3) from 2018-2021.


Squads

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Baker-Whiting, De la Vega, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Vargas, Morris, Cristian, Leo Chu, Minoungou, Musovski, Rodrigues, Rothrock, Ruidiaz, Teves.


Houston from:

Clark, Tarbell, Valdez, Arzu, Bartlow, Dorsey, Micael, Escobar, Sargeant, Schmitt, Smith, Steres, Sviatchenko, Bassi, Blessing, Caicedo, Carrasquilla, Artur, Gregus, Kowalczyk, Moreno, Raines, Sylla, Valverde, Aliyu, Gyamfi, Ferreira, Gaines, Ponce, Segal.


Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)


Sounders FC -

OUT: Joao Paulo (calf).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Leo Chu (illness), Ruidiaz (knee).


Houston -

OUT: Ennali (knee), Herrera (hamstring), Quinones (knee).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Blessing (head), Ponce (thigh).


Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)


Sounders FC: No players suspended. Nouhou out next match if booked.


Houston: No players suspended. Dorsey and Micael out next match if booked.


Fun Fact

Sounders FC Reserves will face Houston Dynamo Reserves on Sunday night. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PDT at Starfire. Go on lads! Get in!

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