Columbus Crew SC ventures to Houston to take on a Dynamo side that has proven itself among the best teams in Major League Soccer at home since last summer, while the Black & Gold look to avoid their first four-match losing streak since 2005.
After losing three straight at home last summer, Houston is 6-1-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium since, averaging 2.3 goals per game.
Columbus (4-4-1, 13 pts), meanwhile, enters Saturday’s match with a 1-2-0 road record, having most recently dropped an away tilt at Montreal via a 1-0 score line. Since Crew SC’s setback against the Impact, the Club has gone 0-2-0 in two consecutive home matches despite overall solid play.
Following training on Thursday morning, head coach Caleb Porter emphasized separating the emotion from the evaluation of the performances.
“We don’t like losing, but you have to be careful to not let that get in the way of the process. The process is always the same. We have to take the emotion out of it. Because at the end of the day when you really evaluate the performance, in the last three, those were good performances,” Porter said.
“We’re not getting broken down," Porter continued. "Our overall defensive plan and structure is very good. When you evaluate that, there is not a lot to change. When you look at the chances, the control we have, the positions that we are getting in, there is not a lot to change other than the final ball and the finish. We have to keep working on that.”
Historically, Columbus has recorded one win in 12 games at BBVA Compass Stadium, while Houston holds an all-time home record of 5-1-6 against the Black & Gold. Crew SC's last match in Houston came on March 11, 2017, with the Dynamo prevailing 3-1.
Through six games this season, the Dynamo (4-1-1, 13 pts.) have totaled 13 goals, the second-most in the League of any team who has played six games or less (Toronto, 18). Of those 13 goals, eight have come at BBVA Compass Stadium. Notably, however, is that Houston is unbeaten at home this season with a 3-0-1 record, but has conceded at least one goal in each of their six overall matches.
Meanwhile, the Crew come into the weekend ranked in the top five League-wide in corners (39), successful open crosses (15), and successful corners into the box (9), but ultimately, it’s the final piece is what it comes down to, Porter said.
“My message to you is everything has been what we wanted it to be, attitude, organization, in terms of us game planning. It has all been there. But the final ball and the finish, that is the one piece we did not get right last game. That’s an important piece to get right.”
Offensively for Houston, both forward Alberth Elis and midfielder Memo Rodriguez lead the team with four goals while forward Mauro Manotas holds a team-high four assists – two of which were game-winners – in addition to two goals. As a team, the Dynamo are completing 71.7 percent of their passes in the final third and 75.7% in the opponent’s half, fourth and fifth best in the league, respectively.
On the defensive end for Columbus, Zack Steffen has saved 82.9% of the shots he has faced this season, the best of any keeper (min. 400 mins played), while as a team, the Crew have conceded nine goals (t-5th in MLS) and posted four shutouts (t-2nd).
Kickoff on Saturday is set for 8:30 p.m. ET at BBVA Compass Stadium. Supporters can watch the match on SportsTime Ohio, stream on FOX Sports GO, or listen on 97.1 FM The Fan or www.ColumbusCrewSC.com (English & Spanish).
