Orlando City (6-5-4, 22 pts.) takes the field at Exploria Stadium for the first time in three weeks this Saturday, battling Houston Dynamo FC (5-6-3, 18 pts.) for the first time since September 2019. The match, presented by Disney Cruise Line, is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be televised locally on FOX35 PLUS and LionNation TV, with pre-game coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Local radio coverage will be available from 7 p.m. ET on FM 96.9 the Game in English and Acción 97.9 FM in Spanish.
Here’s everything you need to know about Houston:
Key Transactions and Player News
Key Additions - Head Coach Paulo Nagamura, CM Hector Herrera (Atlético Madrid, available from July 9), CF Sebastián Ferreira (Libertad), GK Steve Clark (Portland Timbers), RB Zeca (Vasco da Gama), F Thiago Fernandes (Flamengo, loan), CB Daniel Steres (LA Galaxy)
Key Departures - Head Coach Tab Ramos CF Maxi Urruti (Austin FC), CM Joe Corona (GIF Sundsvall), GK Marko Maric (Atromitos), CB Maynor Figueroa (retirement), CB Alejandro Fuenmayor (Oakland Roots FC), CM Boniek Garcia (Olimpia), CF Ariel Lassiter (Inter Miami), CM Derrick Jones (Charlotte FC)
News - Under new ownership, Houston changed managers for 2022, hiring longtime MLS veteran Paulo Nagamura to take the reins. He has one new Designated Player already in Ferreira and will soon add another in Mexican international star Herrera, who comes on a free transfer from Spanish giants Atlético Madrid. Herrera won’t be available against Orlando City but will be eligible to play starting on July 9.
Take a look at Houston’s full roster here.
Team Form
The Dynamo have been wildly up and down this season, still searching for consistency in Nagamura’s debut campaign. Their two results prior to the international break are illustrative – their last game was a 3-0 defeat away to Real Salt Lake, but they won 3-0 at the LA Galaxy in the game before that. Houston alternated being shut out or shutting out their opponent in all five of their May MLS games.
Head-to-Head
Orlando’s first-ever victory in MLS came against Houston in 2015, but the Lions have yet to beat the Dynamo since, sporting a 1-2-2 record against the Texan side. The two teams last faced in Orlando all the way back in 2018, a 0-0 draw most notable for being Adam Grinwis’ first MLS start.
Rasmussen University Fact
Saturday’s game against Houston will finish Orlando City’s late spring tour of MLS’ Texas teams. The Lions faced Austin FC and FC Dallas in their last two regular-season matches before the international break. The three games were originally scheduled to be consecutive, but Orlando’s game away to New England was moved up to June 15 from June 30.
