Houston Dynamo at Atlanta United: MLS match preview

The game: Houston Dynamo (6-6-4) vs. Atlanta United (4-8-4)
When or: 6:30 p.m. Saturday; Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
How to watch: Apple TV — MLS Season Pass, TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Spanish)

To maintain momentum after the international break, the Houston Dynamo will have to take care of business in hostile territory against Atlanta United, the club with the highest average attendance this MLS season, by far. Houston, seventh in the Western Conference standings with 22 points, settled for a 2-2 draw against Portland on June 1 to extend its unbeaten streak to two games – the second longest of the season. Dynamo has scored more goals in the last two games, after beating Colorado 3-1 on May 29, than in the previous four combined. They will meet Atlanta for just the fourth time and first time since 2019. The last three games have all been blowouts and Atlanta has a 2-1 lead in the series. Atlanta, 13th in the Eastern Conference with 16 points, just lost 3-2 against Charlotte FC on June 2 for its eighth loss. Dynamo played both away and at home, with three wins each and exactly 18 goals for and against.

Dynamo midfielder Coco Carrasquilla played an important role in Panama’s two CONCACAF World Cup qualifying victories last week, coming off the bench against Montserrat (3-1) and providing an assist against Guyana (2-0). Carrasquilla has played in 15 of 16 regular season games so far and returned to Houston this week instead of participating in Panama’s friendly against Paraguay on Sunday. He will join the national team next week ahead of the Copa America opener against Uruguay on June 23. Carrasquilla, who is tied with Amine Bassi for the most assists on the team with four, will try to help Dynamo beat Atlanta for the first time since 2018.