Caleb Porter says New England Revolution want to indicate they’re fighters in opposition to Houston Dynamo as they appear to construct on their newest win.
The Revs beat Nashville SC 1-0 on the weekend to maneuver off the foot of the Japanese Convention, snapping a five-match winless streak within the course of.
They’re simply six factors off a playoff spot with 4 video games left to play, and Porter is hoping for extra of the identical mentality to return away with three factors.
“We talked rather a lot final week about simply having a greater mentality, not being fairly as emotional, and simply being extra regular and having ice in our veins a bit of bit extra,” Porter mentioned, as quoted within the Blazing Musket substack.
“We’re going to must, at instances, soak up. [Houston] are among the finest possession groups within the league.
“We’re going to must hold the sport tight. From right here on out, now we have to be robust to play in opposition to. We’re going to hold displaying we’re fighters, and we’re going to be organized.”
Monday coaching pic.twitter.com/OstvDP4atJ
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) September 30, 2024
In the meantime, Houston clinched their playoff spot on the weekend, regardless of a 1-0 defeat to Seattle Sounders as a result of FC Dallas’ loss, as they sit sixth within the Western Convention.
It’s the second 12 months working they’re within the postseason, and head coach Ben Olsen is hopeful they will use that as motivation to get again to profitable methods.
“We’re enthusiastic about being within the postseason and that’s a giant deal,” Olsen mentioned.
“These guys have labored actually exhausting all 12 months to get us into this place. We have now a tricky crew on the town in New England, so now we have to deal with that as we flip the web page on a disappointing end in Seattle.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Houston Dynamo – Griffin Dorsey
The Dynamo held 62.4% possession in opposition to the Sounders on Saturday, the 14th time Houston held not less than 60% of the ball in 2024, the third-most video games on document in an MLS season since Opta started detailed knowledge assortment of MLS in 2010.
Griffin Dorsey completed the sport with a 100% cross completion fee in that defeat, not misplacing any of his 41 passes within the 80 minutes he was on the pitch.
New England Revolution – Aljaz Ivacic
After conceding a number of objectives in every of their earlier 5 league matches, New England secured a 1-0 win over Nashville on Saturday.
The Revolution haven’t stored consecutive regular-season clear sheets because the opening two matches of the 2023 season, with the second of these coming in opposition to Houston, and Aljaz Ivacic might be eager to get one other shutout.
Houston held it down all the best way to the Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs! pic.twitter.com/KVmuI20vGv
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) September 29, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN
New England have gained seven of their final 9 matches in opposition to Houston (D1 L1) relationship again to the start of the 2014 season. Nevertheless, the Dynamo’s solely win in that point got here within the final assembly between the perimeters in Houston, a 3-1 victory in September 2022.
Houston’s five-match unbeaten run got here to an finish on Saturday with a 1-0 loss at Seattle. The Dynamo haven’t misplaced consecutive matches in all competitions since losses to Austin FC and FC Dallas in late April.
In the meantime, New England have misplaced 13 of their final 17 MLS away matches (incl. playoffs) relationship again to the beginning of October 2023. The Revs have misplaced their final three on the street, being outscored 9-0 in these video games.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Houston Dynamo – 61.1%
Draw – 20.5%
New England Revolution – 18.4%
