Preview: Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids – predictions, team news, lineups

The two teams currently fighting for a spot in the top nine of the Western Conference will meet again on Thursday when Houston Dynamo host Colorado Rapids at BBVA Compass Stadium in MLS.

The hosts sit in eighth place with a game in hand on those below them, while the visitors are sixth and hold six points clear of 10th place.

Match Preview

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Since returning to the Western Conference in 2015, Houston has struggled to finish in the playoffs late in the regular season, making the playoffs only twice thanks to a fifth-place finish in 2017 and a fourth-place finish last year. .

Their fourth-place finish saw a major improvement from recent campaigns as they had finished in the bottom three of the Conference in each of the last four years.

Not only did Houston reach the playoffs for the first time in six seasons, but they also reached the Western Conference Finals, missing out on a spot in the MLS Cup finals after a 2-0 loss to the eventual finalists. Los Angeles FC.

Ben OlsenThe men would have hoped to build on that this season, but an inconsistent start has seen them win five and lose six of their opening 14 matches, just five fewer defeats than in all 34 league matches last year .

While it looked like Houston had recovered from a draw and a loss in its first two games with four wins in the next five outings, the Dynamo has won just one of the seven games since .

Their home form will be particularly worrying for Olsen, with his team already matching the number of defeats they suffered at BBVA Compass Stadium last year, and their six goals in seven matches are the second lowest of any team among the 29 MLS teams.

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In contrast, their next opponents, Colorado, are much improved from last campaign, moving from the bottom of the Western Conference to sixth place after 14 matches and already racking up more wins than in 2023.

The Rapids started the 2024 MLS season with a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Portland Timbers, but bounced back impressively with just one loss in the next eight.

Their form has seen a slight dip in recent weeks with three defeats in their last six games, including two winless games before this one, and they will look to get back on the winning path with a win against a Houston side who has only one victory. in the last eight, all competitions combined.

Colorado has failed to take three points from this match in any of the last five meetings, the last being the team triumphing in October 2021 with a 1-0 away victory.

Houston Dynamo Major League Soccer form:

Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer form:

Team News

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The hosts are expected to be without fewer than four players as they look to bounce back from their recent struggles in the next game against Colorado.

Nelson Quinones And Carlos Ferreira should be on the treatment table until the beginning of next month, which excludes them from this one.

Steve Clark And McKinze Gaines was both sent off in the 1-1 draw against rivals FC Dallas and neither is expected to make a return here.

Sébastien Kowalczyk is expected to return to the starting lineup after the striker missed out last time out due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Chris Armas will not be able to call on the services of three of its own for this match, with Daniel Chacon, Kimani Stewart And Wayne Frederic all until next month.

Possible Houston Dynamo starting lineup:
Tarbell; Dorsey, Sviatchenko, Micael, Steres; Arthur, Herrera; Carrasquilla, Bassi, Blessing; Kowalczyk

Colorado Rapids possible starting lineup:
Steffen; Rosenberry, Bombito, Maxso, Vines; Bassett, Larraz; Cabral, Mihailovic, Fernández; Navarro

We say: Houston Dynamo 1-1 Colorado Rapids

Houston have had a disappointing run of matches before this game and will be far from happy with their home performances so far this campaign, and although the Rapids have gotten off to a much better start this year, they have fallen short to win in this stadium neither in one nor the other. of the last two meetings, and we expect that to continue with a draw here.

For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.

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