Houston Dynamo play host to Sporting Kansas City at the Shell Energy Stadium for an MLS clash in the Western Conference on Saturday night.
The two teams experienced contrasting results last time out, as the Orange Crush narrowly lost to Seattle Sounders while the Wizards comfortably came out on top against Vancouver Whitecaps.
Match preview
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After putting together a four-game winning run in all competitions, Houston Dynamo have since suffered back-to-back MLS defeats without scoring away against Austin and Seattle Sounders.
A 3-0 loss against Austin in their final game of June was followed a week later by a slender 1-0 defeat to Seattle last Sunday, in which the dismissal of defender Micael just after the hour mark was followed six minutes later by the game's only goal scored by Albert Rusnak.
Nevertheless, Ben Olsen's side remain on course to better their 13th-placed finish from the last two seasons as they currently sit seventh in the Western Conference table after 20 matches, three points behind Real Salt Lake in fourth with a game in hand.
The Orange Crush boast a strong record on home soil so far this season, as they have picked up 22 of their 27 MLS points at the Shell Energy Stadium with seven victories and one draw from nine home matches.
Houston will be confident of success on Sunday as they are unbeaten in their last three home meetings with Sporting Kansas City and have kept three clean sheets in the process.
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Sporting Kansas City managed to end a three-game winless run in MLS when they secured maximum points with a 3-0 home victory over Vancouver last Sunday.
Goals from Remi Walter and Alan Pulido put the hosts in control at the break, before substitute Erik Thommy added a third seven minutes into the second half to seal a comfortable win for Peter Vermes's side, who restricted Vancouver to just one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.
Following a disappointing 12th-placed finish last year, the seven-time Western Conference champions sit 10th in the current standings, three points behind Sunday's opponents Houston in seventh who have played two games fewer.
Vermes will be keen to see his side put together a strong run of form in the coming weeks to climb into the Final Series playoff spots, but that could prove challenging this weekend considering their poor away from.
Indeed, SKC have won only one of their 11 MLS matches on the road so far this term, while they have already suffered defeat away at Houston this year – losing 1-0 in the last 32 of the US Open Cup in May.
Team News
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Houston midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla is still away on international duty with Panama at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, while defenders Teenage Hadebe and Tate Schmitt remain sidelined with knee injuries.
Micael is suspended following his dismissal last time out, so Chase Gasper could be handed a start at left-back with Franco Escobar retaining his place on the right side of the back four.
Houston's top scorer Amine Bassi, who has found the net eight times in MLS this term, has scored in his last two home matches and is expected to operate in the number 10 role behind central striker Aliyu Ibrahim, who is still searching for his first goal of the season.
As for Sporting Kansas City, Kayden Pierre, Graham Zusi (both hamstring), Willy Agada (tibia stress fracture), Kortne Ford (Achilles) and Tim Melia (thigh) are all ruled out through injury, while Cameron Duke will be assessed after a lengthy spell out with concussion.
In-form striker Alan Pulido has scored seven of his eight MLS goals in his last six appearances and is set to lead the line once again this weekend in between wingers Johnny Russell and Daniel Salloi.
Logan Ndenbe recovered from a hamstring issue to feature as a substitute last time out and the left-back will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI at the expense of Tim Leibold.
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clark; Escobar, Sviatchenko, Bartlow, Gasper; Artur, Herrera; Franco, Bassi, Quinones; Ibrahim
Sporting Kansas City possible starting lineup:
McIntosh; Davis, Rosero, Fontas, Ndenbe; Walter, Radoja, Kinda; Russell, Pulido, Salloi
We say: Houston Dynamo 2-1 Sporting Kansas City
Houston's recent blip in form is sure to provide Sporting Kansas City with a boost heading into Sunday's clash as they seek revenge against the Orange Crush following their slender defeat at the Shell Energy Stadium two months ago.
However, we believe that the hosts will return to winning ways in front of their home supporters and consolidate their place inside the top seven.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
