The Houston Dynamo host Minnesota United in a MLS Western Conference fixture on Friday. Houston is last in the conference table at 3-10-8 on 19 points with a goal difference of -9. Houston earned one point in its most recent outing by battling at home to a 2-2 draw with FC Dallas on Saturday in the famed Texas Derby. Matias Vera scored the equalizer for Houston in the 72nd minute. Houston's Fabrice Picault opened the scoring with a 25th-minute goal from the penalty spot.
Houston has one draw and four losses in its last five matches in the MLS and over that span has scored six goals and conceded 12. The leading goal scorers for Houston are Maximiliano Urruti and Fabrice Picault with six goals apiece, while Tyler Pasher and Picault are the leaders in assists with two each. Goalkeeper Marco Maric has appeared in each of Houston's 21 matches and has allowed 31 goals.
Minnesota United is fifth in the conference table at 7-7-6 on 28 points with a goal difference of -1. Minnesota battled on the road to a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday night. San Jose opened the scoring with an own goal by Minnesota, but United was able to score an equaliser in the 22nd minute by Wil Trapp that followed a red card issued to San Jose’s Nathan Cardoso.
Minnesota has one win, three draws and one loss in its last five matches in the MLS and over that span has scored five goals and conceded four. Minnesota's back line and goalkeeper have two clean sheets in the last four matches played. Robin Lod is the leading goal scorer for Minnesota with six, while five others have scored two apiece. Emanuel Reynoso, Franco Fragapane and Lod each have three assists to lead the club.
