D.C. United Vs Houston Dynamo: Preview and How to Watch

D.C. United gratefully heads home after a bitter defeat this week. Houston Dynamo takes the road for the first time this season after a stunning home loss.

Both D.C. United and Houston Dynamo have much to prove on the pitch this Saturday. They have 90 minutes to make the statement. Only one team gets heard by the time the last whistle blows.

D.C. United claim home team status at the Maryland Soccerplex. This alternate home pitch gives the team a tighter environment than their normal field and head coach Ben Olsen believes this will give the team a greater advantage. Olsen also said the team expressed relief returning to their supporters after their first two games on the road at respective home opener’s.

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The Houston Dynamo make a road trip for the first time this season. In the team’s past 12 seasons, they have just 39 road winds, just north of three victories per year. Not good.

Head coach Wilmer Cabrera said the Dynamo have worked on two focus areas for this game. The first: Set the tone for road performances to get the team out of the game earlier this season. That’s because they play in the highly competitive Western Conference; the second: Get back the three points they lost at home last Saturday.

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Cabrera acknowledged that the Dynamo cured their road weakness near the end of last season. Now they must build on their stronger away performance.

D.C. United

Record (W-L-D): 0-1-1, 8^th in Eastern Conference
Last Time Out: 3-1 loss at Atlanta United FC
Player to Watch For: F Darren Mattocks gives fans an All-Star performance no matter tough a game develops. Keep an eye on number 11 and watch for a score.
Why They Win: They might if they catch and capitalize the Houston Dynamo getting another case of last season’s road-jitters. That’s unlikely. And Houston works this week to prevent it. But if that’s impossible, would another draw be so bad?
Why They Won’t: Houston brings a day of reckoning twice. The first reason: The Dynamo wants to establish themselves early as a road threat; the second: They lost a heartbreaker at home last week. By all means, the visitors want this loss avenged.

Predicted Starting XI:

Houston Dynamo

Current Record (W-L-D): 1-1-0, 3^rd in Western Conference.
Last Time Out: 2-1 shocking loss at home to Vancouver Whitecaps.
Player to Watch For: F Alberth Elis started making good on his vow to rank among league leaders in goals this season. If you want a second, try F Mauro Manotas. He made the same vow.
Why They Win: D.C. United continues to struggle on the pitch as if suffering a  hangover from last season. That provides plenty of opportunities to rain goals on the road.
Why They Won’t: The home team finds themselves and starts playing winning soccer. In other words, they play like their talent quotient says they should.

Predicted Starting XI:

Score Prediction:

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How to Watch:

Where: Maryland Soccerplex, Boyds MD.
When: 1:30 p.m. ET.
Channel: NewsChannel 8 in D.C., KUBE 57 in Houston, MLS LIVE.