2018 US Open Cup Fifth Round
Monday, June 19, 2018
Minnesota United FC (MLS) at Houston Dynamo (MLS)
BBVA Compass Stadium – Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
LIVE VIDEO
Perhaps no MLS team was looking forward to the league’s two-week World Cup break more than the Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo limped into their last MLS match with seven players on the injury report, including five defenders and another starting defender, center back Adolfo Machado, away on international duty with Panama in Russia.
While Houston head coach Wilmer Cabrera hopes his team can heal for the second half of the MLS season, he also isn’t taking Monday’s US Open Cup Round of 16 home match against Western Conference foe Minnesota United FC lightly.
“We want to win at home and we have to win at home, so it’s a very important game for us,” Cabrera told HoustonDynamo.com. “At home we have to be solid and we cannot go just play for fun. That’s not the way we are.”
The Dynamo come into Monday’s match on back-to-back shutout wins at home – 2-0 over struggling Colorado on June 9 and a 5-0 US Open Cup Fourth Round win over amateur side NTX Rayados on June 6. Those wins helped Houston stop a two-game MLS slide, both of those losses were by one goal on the road where Houston has struggled, including a 2-1 loss at Minnesota on April 28.
Weather is expected to be a factor Monday as a tropical system is moving into the Houston area from the Gulf of Mexico Sunday and could dump up to four inches of rain through Tuesday. The good news is that the system will knock down the temperatures with kickoff comfortably in the 70s.
How They Got Here
Houston defeated Dallas area amateur side NTX Rayados 5-0 at home on June 6. The match was scoreless at the half before the Dynamo busted loose with Memo Rodriguez and Aldo Quintanilla each scoring a brace and Matias Zaldivar adding the fifth goal.
Minnesota United FC needed penalty kicks to get past USL and recently announced MLS expansion team FC Cincinnati on the road after a scoreless draw through 120 minutes of play. The Loons converted their first three kicks from the penalty spot with Christian Ramirez, Collin Martin and Brent Kallman finding the back of the net. A couple of Cincinnati misses and a save by Minnesota keeper Bobby Shuttleworth sealed the 3-1 win.
Recent Form:
Houston Dynamo
Last 5 matches: WWLLW
The Dynamo jumped all over NYCFC at home, 3-1, on May 25 before falling 2-1 at Real Salt Lake (May 30) and 1-0 at Montreal Impact (June 2). The wins over Rayados and Colorado gives Houston five straight wins at home coming into Monday’s match.
Minnesota United FC
Last 5 matches: TLWTL
The Loons were 1-1-1 in three straight home matches in May – losing to San Jose, 3-1, tying Sporting KC, 1-1, and beating the Montreal Impact, 2-0. Prior to the US Open Cup win at Cincinnati, Minnesota was thumped on the road at Sporting Kansas City, 4-1.
US Open Cup History
Houston Dynamo (MLS)
13th US Open Cup Appearance
Overall: 13-10-1 (0-1 PK)
Home: 10-4-0
vs. MLS teams: 3-8-0
Best finish: Semifinals (2006, 2009)
Minnesota United FC (MLS)
8th US Open Cup Appearance
Overall: 5-6-2 (1-1 PK)
Away: 4-3-2 (1-1 PK)
vs. MLS teams: 1-4-0
Best finish: Fourth Round (2012, 2014, 2016, 2017)
Prior Meetings
The two teams are 1-1-2 in four lifetime meetings.
The Houston Dynamo are 1-0-1 vs. Minnesota United FC at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Minnesota United FC 2, Houston Dynamo 1 (4/18/18) – The Dynamo took a lead on the road on an Alberth Elis goal in the 10th minute but Minnesota rallied with Darwin Quintero converting on a PK in the 40th minute and Ibson scored the game-winner in the 70th.
Houston Dynamo 2, Minnesota United FC 1 (9/30/17) – The Dynamo snapped a six-game winless streak with a win at BBVA. Alberth Elis broke a scoreless game with a goal in the 69th minute to put the Dynamo ahead and Mauro Manotas connected on the game winner in the 85th. The Loons added a goal in extra time by substitute Sam Nicholson but ran out of time in their comeback bid.
Houston Dynamo 0, Minnesota United FC 0 (7/19/17) – This match saw no goals but five yellow cards as the two teams battled to a scoreless draw at TCF Bank Stadium in Minnesota.
Houston Dynamo 2, Minnesota United FC 2 (4/15/17) – The Loons rousing second half comeback earned them their first ever road point as Christian Ramirez scored in the 47th minute and Johan Venegas tied the match in the 59th minute. Houston was staked to a 2-0 halftime lead at BBVA Compass Stadium on goals by Mauro Manotas in the 14th minute and Alberth Elis in the 43rd minute.
Injury Report:
Minnesota United FC
Out: Sam Cronin M (cervicogenic dysfunction); Kevin Molino M (torn left ACL, out of season); Ethan Finlay M (torn ACL); Marc Burch D (left knee); Jerome Thiesson D (right leg).
Questionable: Matt Lampson GK (right knee)
International Duty: Francisco Calvo D.
Houston Dynamo
Out: AJ DeLaGarza D (torn left ACL); Dylan Remick D (concussion); Jared Watts D (concussion); Darwin Ceren M (leg); Juan David Cabezas M (left quad); Mac Steeves F (left hip).
Questionable: Andrew Wenger M (calf).
International duty: Aldolfo Machado D.
Throw In: Houston forward Alberth Elis has scored eight goals with five assists in 14 MLS games this season. He has struck for goals against Minnesota in three of the two team’s four lifetime meetings.