Inter Miami will visit Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday to meet the Houston Dynamo in an eagerly anticipated league meeting between the sides, the second time in the club's relatively brief history that it's met this opposition.
Houston arrive for this match needing to rebounded from a disappointing 2-1 defeat against FC Dallas, while Miami salvaged a point in dramatic fashion against New York City FC with a stoppage time equalizer to their season opener.
Match Preview
Last weekend, the Dynamo got their campaign off to a lively start, going ahead after only 18 minutes. Instead, defensive miscues and a poor goalkeeping decision saw them fritter away their advantage, letting Dallas back in in the second half. The defeat also brought an end to an unbeaten streak of five games on home soil for the hosts whilst it was the first time in 10 months, since last season's 18th matchday, that they conceded more than one goal at Shell Energy Stadium.
Under Ben Olsen, his side have not yet lost consecutive home matches in the regular season. It is the Dynamo’s first consecutive home defeats in the MLS since the summer of 2022, from July through August. They will be desperate not to fall into a similar situation again as they seek their first win of the season.
Houston has had the upper hand in this matchup historically as well, winning each of their last three meetings with Inter Miami, which includes a 1-0 victory at home in 2023 and then a 3-1 win in the U.S. Open Cup final later that year.
Inter Miami, meanwhile, exhibited again their wont for drama and resilience last weekend, fighting back, even a man down, to snatch a 2-2 tie with New York City FC. The way they have stood up for matches when the pressure is on is a mark of the quality and experience in their squad, driven by the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
Having won eight of the last 12 MLS regular-season games that they've played since 2024, Miami are now undefeated. They will look to defeat their opening away game of an MLS season for the first time since 2021 after playing to a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy in their first away game of 2024.
Javier Mascherano, who was seconds from defeat in his first game as Inter Miami boss, will hope his side can keep digging deep and snatch another important result on the road.
Since joining the MLS Miami have won just 1 of their 4 meetings with Houston, a 1-0 win at home in 2020. The Herons will be determined for something different and to earn their first-ever win at Shell Energy Stadium.
Team News
Nelson Quiñones (knee) and Lawrence Ennali (knee) were missing for Houston in their season opener. Their availability for this fixture is uetermined. Amine Bassi scored against Dallas, and Nicolás Lodeiro, Jack McGlynn and Erik Dueñas all made their MLS debuts with the Dynamo.
As for Inter Miami, defender Tomás Avilés, who received a red card against NYCFC, will be absent. Goalkeeper Drake Callender (adductor), David Martínez (ankle) and Yannick Bright (thigh) are listed as questionable with injuries.
And Lionel Messi — who has already displayed his playmaking genius so far this season — provided both assists on Miami’s goals against NYCFC. The Argentine superstar will again be the focal point in attack, alongside his former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez.
Predicted Lineups
Houston Dynamo probable starting XI:
Tarbell; Dorsey, Bartlow, Awodesu, Steres; Escobar, Artur, McGlynn, Aliyu; Ponce, Bassi
Inter Miami projected starting XI:
Ustari; Weigandt, Fray, Allen, Alba; Cremaschi, Busquets, Redondo, Allende; Messi, Suárez
Prediction
Houston Dynamo 1-3 Inter Miami
Inter Miami have repeatedly shown they can grind results, and their attacking quality should prove too much for a Houston side that looked vulnerable defensively in their opener. Dynamo will be “hungry” to avoid a second consecutive home loss, but it is Messi and Suárez’s know-how that will prove the difference in the Herons’ continuing positive start to the season.
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