Houston Dynamo vs. Austin FC Prediction, Preview and Odds - 9/11/21
Houston is last in the Western Conference following a 2-0 loss at home to the Portland Timbers. The Dynamo are winless in each of their last 16 matches in the MLS after falling Friday night to the Timbers. Houston has lost six of its last seven with the seventh match in that span ending in a draw. Houston has not earned a victory since May 22 against Vancouver and over that stretch has 8 draws and 8 losses. Houston has 6 players out and two questionable for Saturday .
Austin FC is one place higher than Houston in the Western Conference standings but this is just the first MLS season for the club. Austin was defeated on the road last Saturday by the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1. Austin has lost each of its last two matches and five of the last six. Ulises Segura, Ben Sweat, Aaron Schoenfeld and Danny Hoesen out injured
Dynamo is Playing For Nothing But Pride
The Houston Dynamo are last in the Western Conference standings of the MLS with a record of 3-10-10, 19 points and a -12 goal difference. As mentioned previously, Houston is winless in each of its last 16 matches. Houston is led in scoring by Maximiliano Urruti and Fabrice Picault with six goals each and the leader in assists is Picault and Tyler Pasher has two.
Houston has scored only 24 goals this season for an average of 1.04 goals per match. Houston has used just two goalkeepers this season with Marko Maric appearing in 21 matches and Michael Nelson appearing in 2. Maric is questionable because of a leg injury and this season in his 21 appearances has allowed 31 goals for an average of 1.48 goals per match.
Austin must tighten up the back line
Austin FC is 12th in the MLS Western Conference standings with a record of 5-4-13, 19 points and a -10 goal difference. Austin has had its problems as the back line and goalkeeping have allowed 31 goals in 22 matches for an average of 1.41 goals against per match. Goalkeeper Brad Stuver has played in each of Austin’s 22 matches this season and has allowed all 31 goals against the club.
Austin has suffered this season in goals scored with only 21 through 22 matches for an average of 0.95 goals per match. Austin has been held scoreless this season in 12 of its 21 matches. Cecilio Dominguez and Diego Fagundez are the leading goal scorers for Austin with 5 each. Jared Stroud and Dominguez each have three assists to lead Austin and three other players on the club each have two assists.
Pick: Houston Dynamo +105
Houston is having a season to forget, as the Dynamo have gone winless in each of their last to 16 matches and sit last in the MLS Western Conference. However, Houston will be playing on its home pitch Saturday against an expansion team club and if the Dynamo are to win another time this season Saturday is the match. Austin has not done very well itself as the club has lost two straight and 5 of the last 6. Austin has its problems putting the ball in the net as the expansion franchise has been held scoreless in 12 of its 21 matches this season.
Total: Over
Full game total prediction analysis:
Austin has not scored many goals this season but the total has finished over the 2.5 goals per match threshold in each of the last four matches for the first-year club and in five of the last seven. The total has also finished over in 4 of Houston's last 5.