Ben Olsen is hoping that the Houston Dynamo can kickstart a winning streak with their upcoming back-to-back home games in the MLS. The first match will be against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.
So far this season, Houston has only managed to win one out of their eight league games, leaving them in 13th place in the Western Conference with just six points. They recently followed up their 1-0 victory over Los Angeles FC with a frustrating 1-1 draw against 10-man LA Galaxy, dropping valuable points in the process.
However, Olsen is confident that playing on their home turf will give the Dynamo the advantage they need to secure a positive result against Colorado. He acknowledges the Rapids’ attacking prowess and their ability to score goals, but believes his team will be up to the challenge.
“It’s all about maximizing points at home over the next two weeks to put us in a better position, and that starts with Colorado,” Olsen said.
The Rapids have had a strong start to the MLS season, currently sitting in fifth place with 14 points. They have been alternating between wins and losses in their last four matches. Head coach Chris Armas, who played alongside Olsen for the United States, has stated that his team will do everything they can to disrupt Houston’s plans.
“We’re going to come after you, man. You guys are good, but that’s our way, brother. We’re up to that challenge,” Armas said.
In terms of players to watch, Nicolas Lodeiro from the Houston Dynamo has been a key contributor against Colorado in the past, with nine regular-season goal contributions. On the other hand, Djordje Mihailovic from the Colorado Rapids has been in good form, scoring a penalty in their recent win over San Diego FC.
Looking at the history between the two teams, Houston has won their last three meetings with Colorado, breaking a nine-game winless streak. However, the Dynamo have only won one out of their last 10 matches and have struggled to score goals.
According to Opta, the win probability for the Houston Dynamo is at 53.4%, with a 23.9% chance of a draw and a 22.7% chance for the Colorado Rapids.
Overall, the Houston Dynamo will be looking to turn their season around with a victory against the Colorado Rapids at home.
