Austin FC vs. Houston Dynamo Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 8/4/21
Austin FC vs Houston Dynamo
Austin FC is finding it hard to score. The first-year MLS club was shut out at home on Saturday by LAFC 2-0 and has been held scoreless in four of the last five matches at home. Austin did score an impressive 4-0 victory over Portland prior to losing to LAFC. However, scoring has been Austin’s problem all season as the rookie club has been held scoreless eight times in 15 matches. Austin will play without Aaron Schoenfeld, Ulises Segura, Ben Sweat, and Danny Hoesen, while Daniel Pereira and Nick Lima are questionable.
Houston was also held scoreless in its most recent match that ended in a 0-0 draw at home against Real Salt Lake. Houston has also struggled putting the ball in the net, as the Dynamo have been held scoreless in three of the last four matches resulting in one loss and three draws. Houston has earned a draw in seven of its last nine matches and has not earned a victory since defeating Vancouver 2-1 on May 22. The Dynamo will play without Nico Lemoine while Ethan Bartlow is questionable.
Austin needs more scoring
Austin is last in the MLS Western Conference standings with a record of 3-4-8, 13 points and a -6 goal difference. Austin’s back line has played well allowing only 16 goals through the first 15 matches of the regular season but the Austin attack has been anemic at best scoring only 10 goals or averaging 0.67 goals per match.
The leading goal scorers for Austin are Cecilio Dominguez and Diego Fagundez with three goals apiece and Jared Stroud as the team lead in assists with three. Only one keeper has seen action this season for Austin. Brad Stuver has started and played each of the clubs 15 matches and has allowed a total of 16 goals for an average of 1.07 per match but that cannot make up for the 0.67 goals per match the club is averaging on attack.
Houston Needs Victories
The Houston Dynamo are ninth in the Western Conference standings at 3-9-4 with 18 points and a -3 goal difference. The Dynamo are having problems winning as Houston has 7 draws and 2 losses in it's last 9 matches played and has not picked up all three points since May 22 when defeating Vancouver 2-1. Houston has been held scoreless in three of the last four matches and has had a scoring line of 0-0, 1-1 and 0-0 in its last three outings.
Overall this season, Houston has scored 17 goals and allowed 20. The scoring leader for Houston is Maximiliano Urruti with six goals and Tyler Pasher has scored three. Fabrice Picault and Pasher have two assists apiece for the Dynamo. Goalkeeper Marco Maric has started each of Houston's 16 matches and has allowed 19 goals for an average of 1.19 goals per match.
Pick: Draw +250
Austin FC and the Houston Dynamo have had major problems putting the ball in the net, while both have had strong play from their backlines and goalkeepers, therefore this match ends with either a 0-0 or 1-1 scoring line. This will be the first meeting between these two Western Conference clubs. Austin has scored just 10 goals this season while Houston Dynamo has scored 17. At home this season, Austin has been held scoreless in each of its last two matches and in four of the last five. On the road, Houston has been held scoreless in three of its last four.
Total: Under
Austin and Houston have major problems putting the ball in the net. Austin is scoring an average of only 0.67 goals per match and Houston is not much better at 1.25 goals per match. Both Austin and Houston are strong in their back lines and at goalkeeper as Austin is allowing an average of only 1.07 goals per match in Houston is allowing an average of only 1.19 goals per match.
