Houston Dynamo welcome CF Montreal to Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday night as both sides aim to rebound from disappointing defeats in their previous outings. The hosts are chasing a playoff spot in the Western Conference, while Montreal’s campaign continues to unravel after another heavy loss.
With both teams struggling for consistency, this clash presents a vital opportunity to regain momentum midway through the season.
Match Overview
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 PM local time (02:30 WAT, Sunday) at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. This will be CF Montreal’s first visit to Houston since 2022, when they claimed a rare 3-2 victory — their only ever away win against the Dynamo.
Houston sit just two points off the playoff line in the West, while Montreal are languishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, already 17 points adrift of the postseason cutoff after 17 matches.
Both sides were beaten last weekend — Houston fell 3-1 to Sporting Kansas City, and Montreal suffered a heavy 3-0 home defeat to New England Revolution.
Team News
Houston Dynamo are without Andrew Tarbell (cruciate ligament), Nelson Quinones (knee), and defenders Daniel Steres and Erik Sviatchenko, both out with leg injuries. Despite the setbacks, midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk opened his MLS goal account last weekend and will look to build on that momentum.
Franco Escobar is expected to anchor the defense alongside Micael and Luis Ángel Rodríguez, while Ezequiel Ponce continues to lead the line in attack. The Dynamo have conceded 16 goals at home this season — a worrying stat they’ll hope to correct.
Montreal, meanwhile, are missing several key players. Giacomo Vrioni is suspended following a red card, while Nathan Saliba and Joel Waterman are also out due to yellow card accumulation. Fabian Herbers, Bryce Duke, Hennadiy Synchuk, and Dominik Yankov are doubts due to injuries, and Dante Sealy is away on international duty with Trinidad and Tobago.
With their squad stretched, Marco Donadel may be forced to rotate heavily, relying on Prince Owusu and Kwadwo Opoku in attack, supported by Ariel Lassiter and Victor Wanyama in midfield. The defense, already fragile, will be under pressure again.
Tactical Review
Ben Olsen’s Houston side typically look to dominate midfield with a double pivot of Artur and Urso providing structure behind attacking midfielders like Bassi and Kowalczyk. While not prolific, the Dynamo use width and long-range shots to stretch defenses, though their leaky backline at home remains a concern.
Montreal’s tactical identity has been hard to define this season. They often line up in a 4-2-3-1 but lack cohesion in defense and struggle to manage transitions. Without key players, they may opt for a conservative approach, sitting deep and hoping for counter-attacks through Opoku and Owusu. However, with their confidence low and discipline an issue, it may be damage control more than a tactical masterclass.
How to Watch
The match will be broadcast live on Apple TV via the MLS Season Pass in the United States. Fans in Nigeria and other parts of Africa can catch the action live on StarTimes Sports Premium or stream it on the StarTimes ON app. International viewers should refer to their local listings for MLS broadcasting options.
Predictions
Softfootball Prediction: Houston Dynamo 2-0 CF Montreal
Montreal’s injury crisis and suspensions leave them severely weakened, especially at the back. While Houston aren’t the most explosive side offensively, their home advantage and greater squad stability should see them through comfortably.