The Timbers are unbeaten in seven matches against Houston (W4 D3) since the beginning of the 2019 season. Prior to this run, neither team had gone more than three straight games without a loss to the other.
The Timbers earned their fourth win of the season, a 3-0 victory over Colorado, on Saturday. Portland has scored 14 goals in their four wins this season compared to just 11 goals in their other 13 games (D7 L6).
The Dynamo have lost 12 of their last 15 road games (W2 D1) dating back to the beginning of August 2021. Houston has just four wins in their last 50 MLS away matches dating back to April 2019 (D9 L37).
Jaroslaw Niezgoda scored with two of his four shots in Portland’s win on Saturday, taking his tally to 15 goals in MLS (including playoffs). Niezgoda has scored those goals on 41 shot attempts, for a 36.6% conversion rate. Since 2010, no other MLS player who has attempted 40 or more shots has a conversion rate above 28 percent.
Icelandic midfielder Thorleifur Úlfarsson has scored two of the Dynamo’s last four MLS goals, including the first goal in Houston’s 2-0 win over Chicago on Saturday. Prior to Úlfarsson’s strike, only two of the Dynamo’s previous 123 MLS goals were scored by European players (both Niko Hansen).
