Dynamo return home to face defense-first Sounders

The Houston Dynamo will turn to their home-pitch advantage as a decisive factor when they host the road-weary Seattle Sounders on Saturday in a Western Conference matchup.

Houston (2-2-0, 6 points) returns from the international break after a 4-3 loss at FC Dallas on March 21 in the Dynamo's only road contest to date. After falling behind by two goals in that match's first 14 minutes, Houston rallied for goals by Guilherme and Erik Sviatchenko that tied it and a third by Lawrence Ennali that gave the Dynamo the lead.

The Dynamo then allowed an own goal in the 54th minute, and the match turned when Sviatchenko was sent off for a second yellow card in the 68th minute. Houston eventually ran out of gas before succumbing to Dallas' fourth goal in the 86th minute.

Houston continued a pattern that's seen it alternate between wins and losses to start the season. Guilherme leads the team with four goals and three assists while scoring in three of Houston's first four games.

"I am very optimistic. We need to continue to add to this group, but overall, we have guys that can make plays," Houston coach Ben Olson said. "We are scoring goals in a consistent way, and for the most part, we have been good defensively. It takes time, and it is going to get there. You are going to have good days and bad days in this journey."

The Sounders (3-1-1, 10 points) travel to Houston after a scoreless draw on the road against Minnesota United on March 22. Seattle has a three-match unbeaten streak in league play, has not allowed a goal in those past three games and has posted four clean sheets in five MLS contests.

Seattle will be without midfielder Nikola Petkovic for the rest of the season after he tore his right ACL on Saturday during a training session. Petkovic was acquired via loan from Charlotte FC last winter. He started the match against Minnesota, his second start of the season, and had played in six of the Sounders' seven matches across all competitions.

"That is a serious blow to the kid and to the club," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said on Tuesday. "He's got something good there. That is really a bummer. He was finding minutes because of his play. He had the opportunity to show us he could be a very good player."

Paul Rothrock leads the Sounders with two goals this year. Seattle has scored just five goals but has allowed only two.

--Field Level Media