Houston Dynamo vs. Minnesota United Prediction, Preview and Odds - 8/7/21

Minnesota vs. Houston

Minnesota United FC has played to a draw in their last two matches and play host to a slumping Houston Dynamo team that is winless in their last 10 matches.

Houston has not tasted victory in the MLS since May 23rd and they have fallen down the table in the Western Conference. They are in the 11th spot in the West only three points out of the basement and they have only scored 17 goals in 19 matches.

Minnesota had won two in a row before playing to a draw in their last two matches. While in the sixth spot in the West they are only five points clear of Houston in the conference and could use a home win to solidify their playoff chances.

This is the first match between these teams this season.

Giving it Up Late

In their last match the long winless steak for Houston continued when they were on the road and allowed a late goal in a 3-2 loss to Austin FC. Tyler Pasher and Fabrice Picault found the back of the net in the losing effort where they gave up the game-winning goal in the 86th minute and played most of the match a man down with Darwin Cerén receiving a red card in the 20th minute. They almost pulled off the draw even though they lost the time of possession battle (67%-33%), had fewer shots (14-9), and had fewer shots on target (5-3). Houston had only allowed one goal in their previous three matches, which were all draws with their attack struggling.

Maximiliano Urruti had six goals to lead Houston and Tyler Pasher has four goals. DF Ethan Bartlow is questionable with a thigh injury and the forward duo of Carlos Quintero and Ariel Lassiter are both ruled out due to illness. Houston is winless on the road this season.

Heartbreaker

Minnesota was on the road in their last match playing to a 2-2 draw with Vancouver giving up the game-tying goal on a penalty in the 94th minute. Ethan Finlay and Robin Lod each scored in the match where the time of possession, shots, and shots on target was pretty even. Minnesota has scored two goals in each of their last three matches but in the last two they also gave up two goals.

Lod leads the team with five goals and is tied for the team lead with three assists and no other player has more than two goals. FW Franco Rodrigo Fragapane and DF Nabi Kibunguchy are both listed as questionable for this match. On the season Minnesota only has one loss at home and that was in the second match of the season in April.

Pick: Minnesota -132

Houston’s winless streak will end sometime, but that time will not be in this match. They gave up three goals in their last match in a loss and the club is winless on the road on the season. Minnesota is unbeaten in their last four matches but after two straight wins they have played to a draw in their last two matches. They have scored two goals in their last two matches and their attack will play well in this game where at home FC is a different team. I think they have the advantage in the midfield, and they will create more scoring chances and I look for them to score two goals again in getting a home win and extending Dynamo’s losing streak.

Total: Over 2.5 goals

I am leaning towards the Over in this match even though both teams have had issues on the attack on the season. However, Minnesota has scored two goals in each of their last three matches. On the other side of the coin, Houston also scored two goals in their last match but also gave up three goals in a loss. The midfield of United will play well on their home pitch and create scoring chances, which they will take advantage of. In the last match, these teams played last season they played to a 2-2 draw where the pick was Over and that is the pick for this Western Conference encounter as well.

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Jason Green

Jason digs every sport, but the NFL is his favorite. His team is the Washington Football Team and his 2nd favorite is whoever is playing the Cowboys! Jason is a strong handicapper, who graced us with his talents here at Stat Salt. He doesn't don't just write about sports, but he also is an avid sports bettor. Jason has done very well at that and it would be a good idea to follow his picks.