Houston Dynamo vs. Columbus Crew SC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 20
Houston Dynamo vs. Columbus Crew SC
BBVA Stadium – Houston
October 24 – 8:00 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: QuestTEXAS Ch. 55, SportsTime Ohio

The Houston Dynamo are hoping to move above the playoff line in the Western Conference when they host Columbus Crew SC Saturday night at BBVA Stadium.

The Dynamo (4W-7L-8D) rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Minnesota United at Allianz Field Sunday night, while the Crew (10W-4L-4D) snapped a four-match winless streak with a 3-1 victory over NYCFC at MAPFRE Stadium Sunday.

The Dynamo are unbeaten in the last seven meetings between the teams in Houston with the Crew's last victory coming in 2011.

Houston Dynamo

The Dynamo fell into a two-goal hole inside the opening 30 minutes on an Ethan Finlay brace, but struck twice after halftime with Niko Hansen equalizing seven minutes from time after Memo Rodriguez pulled the visitors back a goal just before the hour mark. While Loons boss Adrian Heath felt fortunate to walk away with a point, Tab Ramos felt costly mistakes cost his team points on the night.

"We have those moments when we lose focus and those cause us to lose points," Ramos said. "It's unfortunate because I thought we were certainly the better team today and we once again should have gotten the three points."

The MLS Disciplinary Committee has suspended Adam Lundkvist for two matches and fined him an undisclosed amount for serious foul play. The incident took place in the 8th minute of Houston’s match against Minnesota United FC on Oct. 18. Lundkvist will serve his suspensions during Houston’s matches on Oct. 24 against the Columbus Crew and on Oct. 28 against LAFC.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Michael Salazar (F) - right knee injury
Suspended: Adam Lundkvist (D)
Suspended after next caution: Boniek Garcia (M)
International duty: None

Columbus Crew SC

Artur and Pedro Santos staked Columbus a two-goal lead and Gyasi Zardes scored his 11th goal of the season in second-half stoppage time as Crew SC defeated NYCFC 3-1 at MAPFRE Stadium to clinch a berth in the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs Sunday night. It ended a run where Columbus lost three of their last four in a winless streak.

"The guys looked at themselves and admitted that they can be better, and that’s a true culture," Caleb Porter said after the match. "We’ve been working hard to create that, and I think that was tested in the last three days. I think we showed today that we have a great culture here and we have a great group of guys."

Columbus Crew SC and captain Jonathan Mensah have agreed to a contract extension, the club announced Thursday. The multi-year contract extension was signed using allocation money and will kick in next year.

On Thursday, Porter Porter said Darlington Nagbe, Lucas Zelarayan and Eloy Room will all factor in Saturday's match at Houston.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Vito Wormgoor (D) - ankle injury
- OUT: Fanendo Adi (F) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None