D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo: Preview, time, and how to watch
D.C. United and Houston Dynamo face off in a must-watch match as Black-and-Red former coach, player, and legend Ben Olsen returns to the District with his new team.
The Black-and-Red will be eager to return to winning ways tonight after their most recent losses to Charlotte and Atlanta. D.C. was unable to convert chances in either match. Sitting in 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings, the Black-and-Red aren’t far from playoff contention. However, every single point counts.
Head coach Troy Lesesne shared that D.C. is doing everything to ensure the players are “physically ready and mentally ready for the match versus Houston.” With three games in the span of a week, a roster rife with injury, and extreme heat, Lesesne and his staff have been handed a Herculean task.
The Houston Dynamo are in 8th place in the Western Conference and hope to take all three points on the road to snap a streak of draws against Portland, Atlanta, and Seattle. The Dynamo last won at home, 3-1, against Colorado at the end of May.
While we always look forward to the action on the pitch, Ben Olsen’s return to Audi Field is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. After leaving the District in 2020, Ben Olsen has found success in Houston. In 2022, he took over as head coach and led the Dynamo to the 2023 playoffs after a five-year drought and a U.S. Open Cup title the same year. His contract was extended in April.
Hear everything head coach Troy Lesesne had to say in the pre-game press conference here.
Let us know your thoughts about tonight’s match in the comments below!
Key Player: Christian Benteke
While danger can come from anywhere in D.C.’s lineup, we’re hopeful that Christian Benteke will be back to his clinical goalscoring ways tonight. The veteran striker’s 2024 season record has put him in the Golden Boot race, and we’d like to see him win it while pushing D.C. up the Eastern Conference standings.
Watch Out For: Latif Blessing
Blessing’s brace on Wednesday brought Houston level with Seattle. The sharp midfielder has proven his skill up and down the pitch. Before joining Houston, Blessing played across MLS for LAFC, Sporting Kansas City, New England Revolution, and Toronto FC.
Challenges: D.C. United’s roster remains thin due to injury. The weather in the District is dangerously hot, with temperatures soaring in the high 90s today.
Previously: When D.C. and Houston last met at Audi Field in 2022, the Black-and-Red came out on top, winning 2-0. Houston, however, dominates the all-time record with 15 wins against D.C. United. The Black-and-Red have recorded seven wins against the Dynamo and five draws.
D.C. United Availability:
Out: Conner Antley (knee), Steven Birnbaum (knee), Russell Canouse (not due to injury), Kristian Fletcher (ankle), Jackson Hopkins (back), Christopher McVey (knee)
Questionable: None
Houston Dynamo Availability:
Out: Adalberto Carrasquilla (international duty), Nelson Quinones (knee)
Questionable: McKinze Gaines (lower body)
Location: Audi Field, Washington, DC
Kickoff time: 7:30 pm ET
Referee: Timothy Ford
Available streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Thanks, Sarah. I always appreciate the advance analysis and the thread even though I will be at Buzzard Point in person.
Ps. You need to insert Benteke name above.
Bless you, David! This is what happens when I haven’t clicked save enough times 🫣
Save then click save again just to be sure.
😂
I’m gonna watch the OGDC at Miami Sharks game first. OGDC is in 3rd on 36 pts, Chicago is in 4th on 35 pts and Miami is in 5th on 27 pts. The top 4 in the conference go to the playoffs. Miami plays Ols Glory tonight and Chicago next week. We play NOLA next week. Chicago plays Anthem this week and is likely to win that match. If Old Glory wins tonight they clinch and anything less leaves it all in the wind.
I will say the Miami Sharks city series uniform looks awesome.
https://images.app.goo.gl/z89Eq9UF9UHxtZRF8
Oh shit Jason Robertson got a yellow…not good…and Miami of course takes the pk from dead on point blank range….its the 12′ so we’re down a man till the 22′.
And Miami makes good their man advantage and scores a 7 point try (dotted down under the goal posts). It’s now 10-0 in the 15’…Old Glory still down a man.
Jason Robertson now back on and hydration break.
Miami continues to outplay Old Glorybits now 15-0 in the 36′ and conversion is…good its 17-0 in the 37’…Old Glory’ penalties and ball handling issues continue to be the story of this game.
Old Glory with a huge break and a try out of nowhere it’s now 17-5…and conversion is good…its 17-7.
Starting XI
Benteke (C), Murrell, Rodriguez, KDP, Klich, Peltola, Dájome, Herrera, Tubbs, Bartlett, Miller
Bench:
Akinmboni, Bono, Crockford, Pirani, Santos, Stroud
Fuck, I’m so glad I’m at home. Massive props to all of you braving this microwave. I went outside briefly today, and I swear the breeze gave me an abrasive skin sensation. Crazy day to play such an intense outdoor sport
Tubbs… it had to be Tubbs…
Very close shot to sucker punch Houston
Clear PK after some good interchange between TKD and Benteke!
Andddd IT’s in the net! Great PK by Benteke. Can we hold on?
Oh, maybe it was Murrell
That is a tremendous amount of blood on Tubbs’ face.
Looks like a concussion
Akinmboni coming in
That was a scary clash. Hopefully it’s nothing serious for Tubbs
It could be that he just felt woozy, he did shed a lot of blood and get hit hard. Maybe it’s less concussion and more “I’m good for tonight.” One can only hope
I’m posting this “post-game”–Lesesne said it’s likely a concussion.
A competent looking half from DC. Feels like they were wasteful with their chances on the counter. Houston having a few chances of their own, including several given to them by poor buildup from DC. There’s probably another goal in this game. Can’t complain about having a lead at halftime, though!
Also, for those keeping track at home, Tubbs would be DC’s 3rd/4th injured CB (depending on if you consider Antley a true LB when he was listed as a CB) If he’s out for a period of time. Astoundingly bad luck.
Yep. CB depth is crucial to a team maintaining levels, we did a good job collecting them, horrible luck keeping them healthy
Well said. 5 CBs should be more than enough. Absolutely insane!
Agreed. We’ve done an especially good job keeping play going even when we don’t hit the corners into the net
Great play by DC to win the ball high up, absolutely phenomenal save by Houston’s Clark to deny Benteke from a brace
PK for an unfortunate handball by Akinmboni.
1-1
Also a yellow for Akinmboni. If he gets a second, I’ve got a lovely bunch of coconuts, deedily Dee.
Shit, Houston put it in. I don’t think the Klich thing will overturn it
Confirmed, we’re losing this 2-1
Unlucky pk and just weird goal..2-1 Houston..
This scoreline seemed unlikely jus Minutes ago
Still plenty of time left, but a combination of Houston time wasting and DC’s body language would have you think it’s the 90th minute.
If Benteke was half as good scoring with his feet as he is with his head he’d be an all-time striker. So wasteful.
I think on a better surface, that Benteke volley bounces in
Benteke with a red. Think that’s not a second yellow for persistence of dissent. Think that’s 3 games.
Woof
I wonder does the fact that he was sitting on a yellow card avcumulation play into length of suspension?
I think no, but depending on what he said, could be bad.
Double yellow given to Benteke. I’m biased of course but one would’ve been enough there. I’ve seen far worse in this league. Game is officially over.
As I said above, I think Benteke said something that was worth a straight red. It’s possible to do that with words. It will be 3 games
Should go without saying- your captain should go better. Shouldn’t have given the ref the option.
Our Captains the last five years have either been too quick to complain (Rooney, Benteke) or too dormant (Birnbaum). It’s a tough line to ride but I’d really have loved if Canouse was healthy this year and given a chance to be our on field leader.
Crap Benteke picks up a yellow and he was on an accumulation warning. He’s suspended for the next game.
It could be even worse, I wasn’t sure if the sending off was a straight red (didn’t look like the ref produced a second yellow from my vantage point).
Based on the timeline on the league site Benteke got both a yellow and a straight red. No second yellow though. So red card suspension + yellow card accumulation suspension+whatever else Darth Garber throws on top of it.
MLS reffing is a joke. So much ego-driven bullshit. Bring back the scabs, at least those crews didn’t officiate from the default position of needing to stamp their mark on every game.
I think at this point DCU is competing not to win the wooden spoon for the rest of the season. Playoffs aren’t happening.
We’re also hoping that this stretch doesn’t create a red zone death spiral for the few players we have healthy
Amen to this!
A yellow for diving there is INSANE
Darth Garber says its not.
Games like this really makes me wonder what exactly DC as an organization has done to earn the ire of referees as a whole.
It’s just a general lack of respect because we haven’t been in the “in” crowd for almost two decades.
Ref knew exactly what he was doing making that call right in front of the Chico. Refer to my above comment, swear. I other league I watch is anywhere near this bad.
🤦🏻♀️
At least Klich isn’t going 90- I’ve been worried about him
Both our CB’s are on yellows.
Let me rephrase, our two UNINJURED CB’s are a yellow from suspension.
We’re getting real close to forfeiting a pro game due to lack of players before it starts.
I, for one, am excited about the Hayden Sargis recall.
3-1. Boys, just let it go, don’t get anymore cards or injuries
This team, more than any I remember, has beaten themselves in more games rather than the opponent doing so. 7 or 8 games DC scored first and 2 resulted in wins. I meant it Wednesday when I said this season is over, but good god. To top it off, MLS rules make it so so difficult to rebuild in an offseason.
Old Glory lose 17-12, but because they lost by less than 7 they get a losing bonus point. That gives them 37 pts. Miami gets 4 pts for the win, but with the bonus point even if Miami wins next week and gets a 4+ try bonus point they can’t catch Old Glory. So Old Glory has clinched a playoff spot for the 2nd straight year. Now it’s just a question of being the 3rd seed or the 4 seed.
In context, that Benteke red was a long, long time coming. He’s been unfairly penalized for being a behemoth at pivotal times far too often this season. I actually think he’s been remarkably subdued about the injustice, but it also can hurt to bottle it up. I think he released that all in one go.
I agree with the sentiment, but that is the captain at the end of the day. Let the team down in a game where DC was still scrapping. Not a good look.
Not saying he should have done it, but at what point does human nature kick in? He’s only flesh and blood.
10 minutes of “this ref is malicious” time
This is an accurate statement. Like, just end it.
It’s fine, it’s only 86, feels like 90 out there
This team is in the juicer, 5 minutes likely left. Lol
And there’s the inexperience from Akinmboni
So umm…do we have enough healthy and unsuspended players for a starting XI and no bench for the next game?
If Hopkins is back, we can have a bench of Santos and Pirani. Maybe
There was a time in this game where I was making positive comments. Good times.
….at this point I’m just defaulting to a DC loss and the only question is how bad.
Our new Austrian left back, coming to help us out midseason is the Troy from Community brings pizza into a room aflame, and with one of his friends shot meme. This is bad, y’all
I’m also gonna once again point out that ten minutes of stoppage time is the very definition of incompetence. Stoppage time is literally referee discretion for this exact reason. He could have said one minute, and nobody would have batted an eye. It doesn’t have to make up for all the stops and hydration breaks, these players started at 96 degree temps and finished only ten degrees lower. What an ass.
First, let me say that I’m happy for Benny. I never want to see DCU lose. But Houston is a fine team. They’ve got a heckuva coach who has done a heckuva job. I’m glad he’s doing well and Houston should be a force in the playoffs (especially with the new DP striker they just added who didn’t even play. And Carrasquilla didn’t play either because of his Copa commitment). They’ll be a handful for any team facing them.
Second, you can look at who didn’t start (but came on as reserves) and pencil them in as starters. So Santos, Stroud, and Pirani will be starting against NYRB. They were “rested” this game (hah!).
Third, kudos to everyone who showed up at the game last night.