Seattle Sounders have placed themselves in a good position to earn a playoff spot in the Western Conference by the end of this season after winning their last game and having two games on hand on their nearest rivals.
Their visitors, Houston Dynamo just lifted the US Open Cup for the first time ever, but they are still 11 points away from the tops six and have just 4 games to play, so they need to win this and perhaps all their remaining matches to stand a chance.
When the host won last week, it was against a truly lacklustre Colorado Rapids team, and they shouldn’t expect to have another easy ride to a 4-0 win this time around.
Following that cup win, Houston looked slow out of the blocks at home to struggling SJ Earthquakes, going a goal down to a spot kick from Wondolowski in the thirty-seventh minute and went in at the break two goals behind thanks to Fuenmayor’s own goal second before the break.
A fifty-sixth minute strike from top scorer Manotas proved the start of a tremendous comeback for the hosts, with Martínez leveling the game in the sixty-eighth minute to make the scoreline 2-2. Second half substitute Quioto left it late to secure all three points for Houston, netting the winning goal just three minutes from time, Houston had 60% of the possession, as well as thirteen shots in the match and twelve corners, and did deserve their victory.
Houston have now gone four games in league and cup unbeaten and should give Seattle Sounders a tough game, despite being away from home. We’re confident that over 2.5 goals will be scored in Tuesday’s match, with the final score reading 2-2. Two of the last four meetings between the pair have featured over 2.5 goals, while over 2.5 goals have been scored in four of Seattle Sounders’ and four of Houston Dynamo’s last six matches.
