THE BASICS:
Houston Dynamo vs LA Galaxy
Saturday, Feb. 29 – 2:30 p.m. CDT
TV: Univision
RADIO: Univision Radio 1010 AM
MATCH CENTER
THE PREVIEW
The Dynamo's new era with head coach Tab Ramos officially kicks off Saturday, as the former US men's national team legend will manage his first MLS match. After an offseason full of transfer reports and rumors, Mauro Manotas and Alberth Elis are back and joined by attacking midfielder Darwin Quintero, who arrives from Minnesota United. Marko Maric, a former Croatia youth international, appears primed to be the club's new No. 1 goalkeeper.
THREE POINTS
UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP – Tab Ramos makes his debut on the touchline after serving as the head coach of the United States Under-20 National Team since 2011 and as the U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director since 2013. Ramos joined the Dynamo in October and spent the offseason working with General Manager Matt Jordan to retool the roster across each line in search of a spot in the 2020 MLS Cup playoffs. Ramos is joined by assistant coaches Omid Namazi and Pablo Mastroeni. Namazi helped Ramos lead the U.S. to the 2017 Concacaf U-20 Champions as an assistant coach and was also appointed the head coach of the U.S. Men’s U-18 National Team in 2016. Mastroeni served as the head coach of the Colorado Rapids from 2013 to 2017. The former Rapids midfielder led Colorado to their best regular season record of all time with a franchise record of 58 points in 2016.
QUINTERO OFFERS GAME-CHANGING SPARK – The Dynamo made a statement with their first acquisition under Ramos as Houston acquired Darwin Quintero from Minnesota United. The Colombian forward finished with 21 goals and tallied 20 assists for the Loons in league play in two seasons with the club. Quintero joined Minnesota after nearly a decade in Mexico with Club Santos Laguna and Club América. Quintero won five trophies during his stint in Mexico and finished as the league‘s top goal scorer in the 2013 LigaMX Apertura season and the 2012-13 Concacaf Champions League tournament.
GALAXY RETOOL AFTER DECISION DAY – The LA Galaxy return to BBVA Stadium for a rematch of Decision Day, where they fell 4-2 to the Houston Dynamo on the final day of the 2019 regular season. Despite the loss, the Galaxy advanced to the 2019 MLS Cup playoffs and fell to Los Angeles Football Club in the Western Conference semifinals. Zlatan Ibrahimovic departed the club at the end of the season and the Galaxy signed Mexican international Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez to lead the LA frontline. Chicharito is Mexico’s all-time leading goal scorer and returns to North America after nearly a decade in Europe. Hernandez scored 59 goals for Manchester United across four seasons and joined Real Madrid on loan in 2014. The forward returned to a more active role with Bundesliga side Bayern Leverkusen the following season and scored 39 goals in 76 appearances. Hernandez would also split time with West Ham United in England and Sevilla in Spain in his final two seasons in Europe.
INJURY REPORT PRESENTED BY UT PHYSICIANS
Cabrera – right hip
Elis – right thigh
Palomino – back
Questionable
Quintero – right thigh
Valentin – illness
