Bradley Carnell is raring to get going once more when St. Louis Metropolis return to MLS motion in opposition to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, two weeks on from their final recreation.
St. Louis had been final in motion on April 21, when Tomas Totland’s last-gasp equaliser noticed them declare a 3-3 draw in opposition to rivals Sporting Kansas Metropolis.
Carnell’s crew have solely misplaced considered one of their final eight MLS video games, although 5 of these have completed degree to go away them ninth within the Western Convention standings, one level behind the Dynamo.
Talking concerning the challenges of their lengthy await a recreation, Carnell stated: “The week off was good, it gave us a while to plan and prep for the subsequent few weeks and the place we’re going.
“There’s going to be a ton of video games so it’s actually essential for us to do this. We are able to’t change the calendar and it’s what it’s.
“We’re excited concerning the video games arising, there’s quite a lot of good groups amongst our opponents within the subsequent couple of weeks.”
H-City pic.twitter.com/Mp4l8uFUsf
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) May 3, 2024
Houston, in the meantime, have misplaced three of their final 4 league video games together with every of their final two, each of which got here in opposition to Texas rivals in Austin FC (0-1) and FC Dallas (0-2).
Regardless of their downturn, boss Ben Olsen is selecting to stay upbeat and is definite issues will flip, saying: “I can take a loss and I’ll say the blokes gave all the things, they proceed to battle.
“We’ll get again to work and attempt to make the followers proud subsequent week.
“We put together for St. Louis the identical manner we ready for Dallas. We’ll simply get again to work and maintain going.
“It’s very early within the season. The final two video games didn’t go the best way we wish so we’ve got to study from it.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Houston Dynamo – Ibrahim Aliyu
Aliyu is the one Houston participant with multiple aim to his title in MLS this 12 months, netting 3 times. Nonetheless, he has failed to attain of their final three video games, so he will probably be determined to finish that mini-drought right here.
St. Louis Metropolis – Joao Klauss
Klauss is St. Louis’ joint-leading scorer this season, his three targets solely matched by Celio Pompeu after each gamers had been on course in opposition to Sporting KC final outing.
The Brazilian has tried a team-high 29 photographs this time period in addition to creating 12 probabilities for team-mates, a tally solely bettered by Pompeu (17).
Placing within the work pic.twitter.com/Go33n59YLO
— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) April 30, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION – HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN
The Dynamo’s first victory over St. Louis got here within the second leg of this 12 months’s CONCACAF Champions Cup first spherical, a 1-0 dwelling win that noticed Houston into the spherical of 16.
St. Louis had beforehand gone unbeaten within the first three conferences between the groups (two wins, one draw), together with successful each matches in Missouri.
After successful their first three away matches in membership historical past final 12 months, St. Louis have solely managed three wins in 22 street journeys (six attracts, 13 defeats). Houston, in the meantime, have gained two of their final three at Shell Power Stadium so enter Saturday’s recreation as favourites.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Houston Dynamo – 42%
St. Louis Metropolis – 29.7%
Draw – 28.3%
