Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union | 2016 MLS Match Preview

Clubs at opposite ends of their respective conference tables meet for the only time this season in league play when the Houston Dynamo play host to Philadelphia Union on Saturday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo suffered a defeat for the first time with Wade Barrett last time out, a 3-2 loss at the Portland Timbers, leaving them at the foot of the Western Conference. Union remain atop the East, though their long home undefeated streak came to an end in a 3-2 defeat by Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Talen Energy Stadium.

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• The Dynamo fell to defeat for the first time in four matches – following three consecutive draws – with Wade Barrett in charge as interim head coach, as the Portland Timbers scored twice on late penalty kicks for a 3-2 win Sunday afternoon at Providence Park.
• Roland Alberg scored his fifth goal over the past three matches, but Union lost for the first time this season at Talen Energy Stadium, dropping a 3-2 decision to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday evening. Alberg’s hat trick at midweek vs. Chicago was the first for a Union player since Sebastien Le Toux did it April 10, 2010 – the club’s second game ever, a span of 214 games between hat tricks.
• Union won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 2-0 victory Aug. 20 in Chester, snapping a six-game winless streak vs. Dynamo. Union are undefeated in the last three meetings at Talen Energy Stadium; two scoreless draws came in 2014.
• The Dynamo have won the last four meetings at BBVA Compass Stadium, after Union won on their first two visits ever to Houston.

REFEREE: Edvin Jurisevic. AR1 (bench): Mike Rottersman; AR2 (opposite): Andrew Bigelow; 4th: Ismail Elfath
MLS Career: 100 games; FC/gm: 22.9; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 22; pens: 20

SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: HOU: Alex … PHI: Tranquillo Barnetta
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: HOU: Jalil Anibaba … PHI: Raymon Gaddis
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (13 meetings): Dynamo 5 wins, 14 goals … Union 4 wins, 13 goals … Ties 4
AT HOUSTON (6 meetings): Dynamo 4 wins, 10 goals … Union 2 wins, 6 goals … Ties 0

LAST YEAR (MLS)
9/20: PHI 2, HOU 0 (Barnetta 3; Sapong 63)

• This is the only league meeting between the teams this season.
• Union won the lone meeting between the teams a year ago, a 2-0 victory Aug. 20 in Chester, snapping a six-game winless streak vs. Dynamo. Union are undefeated in the last three meetings at Talen Energy Stadium; two scoreless draws came in 2014.
• The Dynamo have won the last four meetings at BBVA Compass Stadium, after Union won on their first two visits ever to Houston.
• Coaches record: Wade Barrett vs. PHI: first game … Jim Curtin vs. HOU: P3 W1 L1 T1

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