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.
