HOUSTON DYNAMO v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC MLS CUP ROUND OF 16 - GAME 2 - WALKER STREET, HOUSTON, TEXAS

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders FC are off to Planet Texas. A Sounders victory would win the cup tie and advance us to the MLS Quarter-Finals. Standing between us and this goal are Dinamo Houston, once known as San Jose Earthquakes, and before that known as the San Jose Clash. In for a penny, in for a pound.

What: MLS Cup Round of 16 Game 2, Houston Dynamo v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: Walker Street, Houston, Texas.

When: 3:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Sunday 3 November 2024 CE.

At Stake: A victory, or a draw combined with a favourable penalty kick shootout (MLS seem to really like penalty kicks), is enough for Sounders to win the cup tie and advance to the MLS Cup Quarter-Finals. A defeat would see a third and final match be played at Royal Brougham Park on 10 November to determine whether Sounders or Dinamo Houston advance.

Where to Watch: MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Where to Listen: KJR 950 AM and El Rey 1360 AM.

It would seem that Dinamo Houston have their backs to the wall, down one win…draw…win…draw…(fuck it, we’ll just avoid the feedback loop then and let’s move on, yes?), to zero in the perfectly cool and normal best of three Round of 16 cup tie. This minus sensible things like single-elimination cup matches and 30 minutes of extra-time if tied at full-time, but who needs silly things like traditions and sensibility in the overblown advertisement for an automaker known as the MLS Cup. Right. Focus.

As always support is vital. With any luck, our Heartland Horde people will show up in numbers at this match. Anyone heading to the away match knows the drill. Tie your scarves proper, look after each other, and be loud enough that those of us that remain in The Evergreen can hear you over the incredibly daft commentary of Mark Rogondino and Heath Pearce, who will jabber away about some nonsensical thing as we stare at the tiny figures on the telly screen wondering who has the football and wonder what the fuck has just happened. Right. Focus.

Generally be on your best behaviour if you’re in the away support at the Walker Street ground. Until you get to your seats, that is, at which point you should make an ungodly racket for the purpose of lending a bit of gravitas to our stroppy veneer.

For those of us that remain in The Evergreen, the duty is also clear. It’s pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips. In the words of the immortal musical artists known as Ugly Duckling “…Press the gain / ’Til the neighbours complain…” That’s us in familiar settings, or in a pub strange to you - not so much, perched on the edge of the settee mentally willing the Sounders FC to victory.

It’s a Sunday matinee in Houston town. It’s cup football, live from a football ground that had its name sold to fossil fuel corpo fuckheads that shan’t be named here. Fasten that seat-belt, Grandpa! GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!! SOUNDERS FOR THE CUP!!!

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

Should Sounders FC shut out the Houston on Sunday, Stefan Frei will 

tie Kevin Hartman for most MLS Cup clean sheets all time with 15.

The Good News

Sounders are undefeated against Houston this season in all competitions, having registered a victory and two draws.

Sounders dominated the Houston in the first match of the tie, with decisive margins in nearly every statistical category. We had demonstrably more of the possession with 55.4%, outshot them 20:7, 3:0 shots on goal - We literally held Houston to zero shots on goal, attempted over 60 more passes, with a passing accuracy of 88.7% we were 3% more accurate, 8:1 on corner kicks, and 11:5 on crosses.

The Bad News

In the three matches we’ve played against Dinamo Houston, two in the league and one in the MLS Cup, the aggregate goals are only 4:3 in our favour. Hardly a decisive margin.

Houston’s home record in all competitions (9-9-5) and the Sounders away record (9-2-7) aren’t that much different. As far as goal scoring and defence, the margins separating Sounders and Houston are razor-thin. If results are the metric, this match is essentially a crapshoot.

In the first match of the tie, Houston bested us in aerial duels 11:17. That’s a bit concerning.

The Side I Would Select

There’s been plenty of rest since the first match of the tie last Monday, so that’s not an issue. Injuries though, might be an issue. This is who I would select assuming that Baker, Morris, and Rusnak are out. The current injury status of those three players are matchday decisions.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Vargas

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Joao Paulo (Rusnak if he’s fit)

RF     de la Vega

CF     Ruidiaz (Morris if he’s fit)

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Looks like de la Vega might be back in the Gaffer’s doghouse. So I’d imagine Vargas is going to end up in the team at Pedro’s expense. You’d have to imagine Atencio is Rusnak’s understudy at the #10. If Morris can’t go, you’d expect Ruidiaz to be the replacement.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Joao Paulo

RDM   Cristian

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Atencio (Rusnak if fit)

RF     Vargas

CF     Ruidiaz (Morris if fit)

Intangibles

The Referee for Sunday afternoon’s match will be Armando Villarreal.

Houston record with Villarreal as ref: 5-7-5

Sounders FC record with Villarreal as ref: 6-5-3

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) undisclosed fee (This transfer doesn’t happen until 1 July)

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 loanBaird (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

SEA 1:1 POR

HOU 1:0 POR

POR 2:2 HOU

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

SEA 1:1 COL

COL 0:1 SEA

COL 0:1 HOU

HOU 3:1 COL

(against COL: SEA 1-1-0 +1, 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

STL 3:0 HOU

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

LAG 1:0 SEA

SEA 0:0 LAG
SEA 3:1 LAG     LC

LAG 2:1 HOU

HOU 2:1 LAG

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

VAN 3:4 HOU

HOU 1:1 VAN

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

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

SEA 2:0 NE

HOU 2:1 NE

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

Know Thine Enemy

Dinamo Houston as they lined up against us in their 1:1 draw against us in the first match of our MLS Cup Round of 16 tie on 28 October at Royal Brougham Park.

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 (97/0)

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 (52/4)

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 (57/1)

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, 33

Denmark (5/1)

Notable Clubs: Midtjylland (254/25), Celtic (42/1), Houston Dynamo (48/1)

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 (98/9)

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 (68/2)

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 (59/13)

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.

Hector Herrera, 34

Mexico (105/10)

Notable Clubs: Pachuca (52/2), Porto (164/26), Atletico Madrid (58/0), Houston Dynamo (62/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Pachuca, Cuautla, and Tampico Madero. Won a Portuguese league title and two Supertacas with Porto. Won a La Liga title with Atletico Madrid.  Won a US Open Cup with Houston Dynamo. Won CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Cup with Mexico. Twice-named to Portuguese league Team of the Year. Named to CONCACAF Best XI three times. Named to CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI. Won CONCACAF Cup Golden Ball. Named to CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI. Named to MLS Best XI 2023.

FORWARD

Ibrahim Aliyu, 22

Nigeria

Notable Clubs: Lokomotiva Zagreb (79/14), Houston Dynamo (58/9)

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 (10/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €7M

Notes: Developed by Newell’s Old Boys.

Adalberto Carrasquilla, 25

Panama (59/2)

Notable Clubs: Tauro (86/4), Cartagena (46/1), Houston Dynamo (95/9)

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.

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

Houston from:

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

Sounders FC from:

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

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

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

MATCHDAY DECISION: Smith (thigh).

Sounders FC -

OUT: Castro (adductor), Musovski (quadriceps).

MATCHDAY DECISION: Baker (concussion protocol), Morris (hamstring), Rusnak (hip).

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time…sorta)

I Just read the MLS Cup Disciplinary Guidelines. It was, without a doubt, the most unintelligible, unnecessarily complicated, multi-page word salad I have ever read in this life. Takeaways: So it’s three bookings, all in different matches, before a suspension. If you get two bookings in a match, two yellows still equal a red and you’re out next match. There are also a myriad of exceptions for when the card slate resets for the Semi-Finals that I won’t go into detail about, because of the predictable stupidity of it all. It was truly all very simple until MLS had to fuck about with it.

Houston: Carrasquilla is suspended and serves a one-match ban for Sunday.

Sounders FC: No players suspended.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC have won eight trophies (one MLS Championship, two MLS Cups, 4 US Open Cups, and one CONCACAF title). Brian Schmetzer has been the Sounders FC Manager since the last 14 matches of the 2016 season - a total of roughly eight and one-half seasons. During the Schmetzer era, Sounders FC have won three trophies consisting of two MLS Cups and one CONCACAF title.