After a couple of weeks on the road, the Houston Dynamo begin a three-game homestand this Saturday against the Portland Timbers at BBVA Compass Stadium (7:45 p.m. CT).
The Timbers are right on the edge of the Western Conference playoff race in fifth place, six points above the Seattle Sounders and the first non-playoff spot. Portland carries an even 11-11-8 record (41 points), but all 11 victories have come at home for the Timbers. They are the last remaining team in MLS without a road win, with an 0-8-6 record. Portland has won three of its last four MLS matches, with the lone loss in Frisco to FC Dallas on September 3.
The Timbers attack is led by forward Fanendo Adi (15 goals) and midfielder Diego Valeri (12 goals, 7 assists), both in the top 10 in MLS for goals scored. While the offense has been potent at home—a league-best 34 goals scored—it has stalled on the road with only 11 goals in 14 games.
”Portland comes in, they have some really good attacking threats,” Dynamo interim head coach Wade Barrett said on his weekly radio show. “On top of Adi that you have to worry about and [Darlington] Nagbe and Valeri, Darren Mattocks has come in, he’s been in a really good run of form.”
Meanwhile, the defense has allowed the second-most goals in the Western Conference, though they held Real Salt Lake scoreless and the Philadelphia Union to a single goal in their current two-game winning streak.
The one previous meeting between the two teams this season was a wild 3-2 win for Portland on a warm summer afternoon at Providence Park. The Dynamo jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first half before allowing a second half goal and two penalty kicks in the final 10 minutes.
