Kei Kamara (pictured) faces his former club Houston Dynamo on Saturday night as the Columbus Crew look to pick up their second win of the season. Photo Credit: Don MacGregor/Windy City Soccer
The Columbus Crew and Houston Dynamo met only once in 2015, a 1-0 Houston win at BBVA Compass Stadium in the first week of the season. The Crew would go on to headline the MLS Cup final while the Dynamo missed out on the postseason for the second straight year.
Saturday’s match at MAPFRE Stadium will be the only encounter between the two sides in 2016 (unless both clubs reach the MLS Cup Final), and the 22nd meeting overall. Columbus leads the series with 6 victories, the Dynamo have won 5 and other 10 matches have been draws. Houston has not won in Columbus since June 10, 2007 (their only ever win at then-Crew Stadium) and holds a 1-5-4 record when playing in the Discovery City.
Saturday night is College Night at @MAPFREStadium. #CrewSC #CLBvHOU
–> https://t.co/mBVH8sWWi7 pic.twitter.com/fhJHK5QPU3
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) April 21, 2016
MLS introduces new league-wide bag policy, begins this Saturday
If you’re heading to the game in Columbus on Saturday it’s important to mention that Major League Soccer updated its security standards across all 20 stadiums and it is effective immediately. The biggest change is the bag policy. No bags larger than 14” x 6” x 14” will be permitted at MAPFRE Stadium. For more information here are some links of help:
Columbus Crew SC (1-3-2 overall, 5 pts. 9th Eastern)
Courtesy: Columbus Crew Communications
2016 Home Record: 1-1-0
Gregg Berhalter vs. Dynamo: W1-L2-T1 (1-0-1 at Home)
INJURY REPORT:
Questionable:
DF Harrison Afful (R Calf Strain)
DF Corey Ashe (L Thigh Strain)
DF Gaston Sauro (L Hamstring Strain)
MF Tony Tchani (R Calf Strain)
Crew SC is coming off its first win of 2016 after fending off NYCFC 3-2 at MAPFRE Stadium last Saturday. Ethan Finlay scored his first goal of the season in the 7th minute before NYCFC’s David Villa tied the match in the 15th minute. Kei Kamara (49th minute) and Justin Meram (80th minute) each collected their second goals of the season thereafter to take a 3-1 lead. In the 87th minute, Michael Parkhurst was sent off for “denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity” and Villa converted the PK to end the game 3-2.
The Crew were on the road for 4 of 5 matches to start the season, losing three and drawing two. This game is the second of a two-game home-stand before the Black & Yellow head to Seattle next week.
The last time Columbus hosted the Houston Dynamo was on August 23, 2014, a 3-0 win for the Crew with a 1 goal, 1 assist performance from Justin Meram. 10 Crew players from that game are on the current roster, including 9 from the starting XI. Also, Corey Ashe (now a member of the Crew) was in the starting lineup for the Houston Dynamo that night.
Notes of interest:
- The red card, and accompanying one-game suspension, issued to midfielder Michael Parkhurst in the 87th minute vs. NYCFC, was rescinded on Monday due to a case of misidentification and applied to Tyson Wahl. The Independent Review Panel also rescinded the fine and one-game suspension from Wahl on Thursday. Neither player will miss the game vs. Houston.
- Tyson Wahl’s next appearance will be the 150th of his MLS career.
- Wil Trapp (366) leads all MLS players in successful passes this season. The top 5 is rounded out by Seattle’s Oswaldo Alsonso (359), Red Bulls’ Dax McCarty (352), SKC’s Nuno Coelho (340) and NYCFC’s Andrea Pirlo (339).
Houston Dynamo Head Coach Owen Coyle promised lineup changes after last week’s 4-1 loss to LA Galaxy. Will Designated Player Erick Torres (pictured) be a key part of these changes? Victor Araiza/Prost Amerika
Houston Dynamo (1-3-2 overall, 5 pts. 10th Western)
Courtesy: Houston Dynamo Communications
2016 Road Record: 0-2-0
Owen Coyle vs. Crew: W1-L0-T0 (0-0-0 Away)
INJURY REPORT:
Doubtful:
MF Rob Lovejoy (L Hamstring Strain)
The Houston Dynamo are on a four-game winless streak and their only win of the season so far has been a 5-0 beatdown at home of derby rivals FC Dallas. The Dynamo are fresh off a 4-1 loss on national television at the hands of the Los Angeles Galaxy, who collected their first road win of the season at Houston. Now, the Dynamo are looking to pick up their first road win of 2016 and mend their difficulties when playing away (the Dynamo won only two of their 17 road games in 2015).
After six games, the Dynamo have scored the second-most goals in MLS (13) but have allowed the third-most goals in MLS (13) this season.
Head Coach Owen Coyle, in his 2nd season with the Dynamo, began his coaching stint with the Dynamo with a 1-0 home victory against the Columbus Crew. Dynamo defender David Horst scored his second goal of the season on Friday versus the Galaxy, a career-high for Horst that has him tied amongst MLS defenders this season.
Notes of interest:
- Ricardo Clark can make his 200th career regular-season start with the Dynamo on Saturday.
- Giles Barnes can make his 100th career MLS regular-season start at Columbus. He would tie Geoff Cameron and Andre Hainault for 11th on the club list.
- Will Bruin’s next goal would be his 50th during the MLS regular-season.
Where to watch/listen to #CLBvHOU:
| Columbus Crew SC | Houston Dynamo | |
| TV (English): |
The CW Columbus (WWHO 53) |
|
| Radio (English): |
CD102.5 FM (WWCD) |
Sports Radio 610 AM (KILT) 95.7-3 FM (simulcast) www.houston.cbslocal.com (online stream) Radio.com app (Mobile) |
| Radio (Spanish): |
La Mega 103.1 FM (WVKO-FM) |
Amor Celestial 1010 AM (KLAT) |
| Online stream available in USA and Canada (except Columbus and Houston areas): MLS Live
International: Abu Dhabi Sports, LETV, BeIN Sports Australia, BeIN Sports Asia, Sportcast, |
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Links of interest
Here some content from other sites you may want to look at before the game. Remember that the hashtag for this game is #CLBvHOU
Articles:
- Three things to know about the Dynamo (ColumbusCrewSC.com)
- Hello from the other side: Ashe faces old teammates with Crew SC (ColumbusCrewSC.com)
- #CLBvHOU preview with Glenn Davis (HoustonDynamo.com)
Videos:
- Crew SC Head Coach Gregg Berhalter on #CLBvHOU
- Crew SC Midfielder Justin Meram on #CLBvHOU
- Crew SC Defender Michael Parkhurst on #CLBvHOU
- Crew TV’s Matchday + for #CLBvHOU
- Time Warner Cable SportsChannel preview #CLBvHOU
Victor Araiza is a beat writer covering the Houston Dynamo for Prost Amerika.
Follow @victoraraiza Tweet to @victoraraiza
Columbus Crew
