NEED TO KNOW:
Dynamo earned second clean sheet of the season to open two-game road trip on Tuesday
Houston earned 2-1 victory in first meeting with San Jose on April 16
Dynamo return to BBVA Stadium on July 31 to host USMNT goalkeeper David Ochoa and Real Salt Lake
HOUSTON – Houston Dynamo FC visit PayPal Park on Saturday for the second meeting with the San Jose Earthquakes this season. Saturday’s game is the end of a two-game road trip that began on Tuesday with a 0-0 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah.
Dynamo defender Teenage Hadebe made his Dynamo and MLS debut on Tuesday and finished with two interceptions and three clearances. Hadebe and the Dynamo backline also led the team to their second clean sheet of the regular season. Outside back Zarek Valentin played a key role in the shutout with three interceptions and five clearances. Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Maric did not face a shot on goal and finished with no saves for the first time this season.
Offensively, Houston was held scoreless for the second time this season and will look to Academy product Memo Rodriguez to generate chances on Saturday. Rodriguez leads the team with 15 chances created this season. Rodriguez and the rest of the Dynamo offense will look to generate opportunities for forward Maxi Urruti, who currently leads the team with six goals.
Houston will also look to claim the season series against the Earthquakes after earning a 2-1 victory on April 16 in the opening week of the season. The Dynamo claimed all three points at BBVA Stadium with goals from both Rodriguez and Urruti. Houston is winless in Northern California since 2016 and enter the match with a 4-7-2 record on the road against San Jose.
The Dynamo return to BBVA Stadium on Saturday, July 31 to host David Ochoa and Real Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m. CT.
WHO: Houston Dynamo FC at San Jose Earthquakes
WHEN: Saturday, July 24 – 9:00 p.m. CT
TV: QuestTexas ch. 55
Glenn Davis and Eddie Robinson
TeleXitos ch. 47.2
Alex Parra and Gustavo Rangel
RADIO: Spanish: TUDN Radio Houston 1010 AM
Daniel Mejia and Lester Gretsch
Here are three key points ahead of Saturday’s game:
HOUSTON RETURN TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: The Dynamo return to northern California for the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dynamo hold a 4-7-2 record on the road against the Quakes and their most recent victory in San Jose was a 2-1 triumph on Aug. 19, 2016. The Dynamo have gone 0-2-1 in San Jose since that victory. A triumph on Saturday would also give the Dynamo their first road victory of the season and snap a winless streak that began on May 29 in Kansas City.
DYNAMO BACKLINE OPEN ROAD TRIP WITH CLEAN SHEET: The Dynamo earned their second clean sheet of the season on Tuesday and Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Maric finished the game without a save, a first this season for the shot stopper. The Dynamo backline saw the addition of Teenage Hadebe and this was the eighth backline combination this season following the return of Sam Junqua and departure of Maynor Figueroa and Boniek Garcia due to international duty.
SAN JOSE IN NEED OF POINTS: The Earthquakes enter Saturday’s match winless since May 7 and with three consecutive draws after Wednesday’s 1-1 tie against Sporting Kansas City. Nathan Cardoso gave San Jose the lead in the 53rd minute, but the Quakes conceded minutes before the final whistle to split a share of the points. Forward Carlos Fierro returned from injury on Wednesday and the Dynamo backline will be tasked with containing Fierro, playmaker Eduardo “El Chofis” López and winger Cristian Espinoza. Cade Cowell will miss Saturday’s match after joining the U.S. Men’s National Team in Texas on Tuesday for the 2021 Gold Cup.
