The Opponent
The Dynamo have made a strong star to this season, and, approaching the halfway point, are sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference, just two points behind a Seattle team on which they have three games in hand.
A vastly improved defense is a big part of the reason why. After conceding 58 goals last year, Houston has only conceded 14 so far this year — thanks in large part to personnel changes in central midfield and central defense,
Now, however, they Dynamo are preparing to face the toughest stretch of their season. That stretch began on Wednesday, when, with a number of starters away on international duty, Houston blew a 2-0 home lead to Minnesota and was knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup while the Timbers were breezing by LA in Portland.
The Dynamo now have eight league games in the next 30 days — only two of which will be at home. If they're still above the red line come the end of July, they're likely going to stay there the rest of the way.
The Tactics
The Dynamo have given the Timbers plenty of trouble at Providence Park during the Wilmer Cabrera era, most memorably in the playoffs two years ago, largely because there are few teams in MLS better equipped to counter attack.
Houston's first choice front three of Alberth Elis, Romell Quioto, and Mauro Manotas has combined for five goals and assists in their last three games in Portland, while Manotas' eight career goals against the Timbers is second most among active MLS players trailing only Chris Wondolowksi.
The issue for Cabrera is that the Dynamo will be extremely shorthanded tonight, especially in the attack. Elis and Quioto are at the Gold Cup with Honduras, while Manotas was in Colombia this week dealing with immigration issues and didn't travel with the team to Portland.
It doesn't stop there for Houston: Maynor Figueroa and Darwin Ceren are also with their respective national teams at the Gold Cup, Memo Rodriguez is hurt, and Andres Lundqvist, like Ceren, was back in his home country over the week and is a doubt for Saturday.
The Dynamo will still look to absorb pressure and pick their spots in transition, but they'll have to do so without their best player in Elis and a patchwork lineup all over the field — likely set up the team's standard 4-2-3-1, though Cabrera did shift to a back five for his team's trip to Portland last July.
For Houston, a point will do. The Timbers, on the other hand, sitting in last place in the Western Conference and facing a weakened opponent, badly need three. Brian Fernandez is gunning for the record for longest scoring streak to start an MLS career, and with Sebastian Blanco suspended due to yellow card accumulation, Portland might need him to have another big game.
Alan Kelly will officiate, while DaMarcus Bealsey, the Dynamo captain and US national team legend, retiring at the end of the season, will make his final appearance at Providence Park.
The Lineup
12 - Clark
4 - Villafaña
33 - Mabiala
18 - Cascante
2 - Moreira
21 - Chara
22 - Paredes
27 - Asprilla
8 - Valeri (C)
17 - Ebobisse
7 - Fernandez
— Blanco is suspended, while Andy Polo and Andres Flores are away with their national teams, leaving a void in the front four. Tomas Conechny started against the Galaxy, but it's anyone's guess who will get the nod in that spot tomorrow night.
— Bill Tuiloma, who injured his hamstring against LAFC, is out. Larrys Mabiala and Julio Cascante will be the first choice center back pairing for the foreseeable future.
— Zarek Valentin is listed as questionable with a left thigh injury, which means that Marco Farfan could figure into his first league game since last October.
The Memory
Brian Fernandez's Timbers career began just over a month ago against this very same Dynamo team with a goal off the bench to nab a point in Houston.
The Pick
Between Fernandez and Valeri, the Timbers should have enough against this collection of Dynamo players. They win 2-1.
