Revolution vs. Dynamo 2013: Match Preview and Notes, Round Two

The New England Revolution face the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night in an Eastern Conference clash between two clubs that are eyeing up the fifth and fourth playoff places like hungry dogs. The two clubs' last encounter was highlighted by a first-half kerfluffle that saw Dimitry Imbongo and Bobby Boswell get shown their marching orders.

New England retains a superior regular-season record over the Dynamo, but matches between the two clubs are often contentious and brutal. Though Houston has a reputation as a big, physical squad, they haven't demonstrated that same violent streak this season, keeping the fouls down and generally sticking to a somewhat more palatable brand of soccer. New England, meanwhile, has kept the style points up but compensated with the imposing strength of Jose Goncalves, Stephen McCarthy, and forwards like Imbongo and Chad Barrett.

Q&A with Dynamo Theory

New England faces Houston at the weekend, and we caught up with Richard Willis of Dynamo Theory to learn more about the only orange club in MLS.

REVOLUTION INJURY REPORT

OUT: Kevin Alston (Disabled List, Illness); Juan Agudelo (R Knee Sprain)
QUESTIONABLE: Chris Tierney (L Knee Irritation)

DYNAMO INJURY REPORT

OUT: Anthony Arena (R Ankle Sprain); Calen Carr (L Knee); Brad Davis (L Hamstring Strain)
QUESTIONABLE: Boniek Garcia (R Hamstring Strain)

SUSPENSIONS/INTERNATIONAL

Int'l: Will Bruin (Houston, USA), Corey Ashe (Houston, USA)

TEAM NOTES

• New England and Houston have met 15 times in the overall MLS regular-season series, with the Revs holding a 7-3-5 record against the Dynamo...the Revolution is 7-3-7 against the Dynamo in all competitions, including MLS Cup and SuperLiga
• Saturday's meeting will be the second of three meetings between the two clubs this season...the two clubs play at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 28 to complete the regular season series
• The Revs won the first meeting between the two clubs this season, a 2-0 win on May 18, at BBVA Compass Stadium
• The Revs began the all-time series with a 6-1-3 record against Houston through the 2010 season, but Houston then went 2-0-2 against New England with two wins at home and two draws at Gillette Stadium in 2011 and 2012
• In all but one meeting - the 2-1 Revs win in Houston on Oct. 10, 2010 - the winning team has recorded a shutout or the match has ended in a draw...overall, there have been nine shutouts in 15 regular-season meetings
• New England and Houston have met in three tournament finals: MLS Cup 2006, MLS Cup 2007, SuperLiga 2008...Houston won the 2006 MLS title match in penalty kicks after extra time finished 1-1 in Frisco, Texas, and then one year later took the 2007 championship with a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory in Washington, D.C....the Revs won SuperLiga 2008 in penalty kicks after the teams were knotted at 2-2 after extra time at Gillette Stadium

PLAYER NOTES

• Saer Sene is the Revolution's current leading scorer against Houston with two goals in one appearance...Sene scored a penalty kick goal and later an unassisted strike when the teams met on May 19, 2012, at Gillette Stadium
• Diego Fagundez scored his first goal against the Dynamo - a game-winner - in the Revs' 2-0 win on May 18
• Juan Agudelo made his first appearance as a member of the Revolution - and scored his first goal as a Rev - against Houston (May 18)
• Chad Barrett has recorded two assists in 11 games against Houston
• Andy Dorman and Clyde Simms have each recorded one assist against the Houston Dynamo
• Kevin Alston recorded the first assist of his career against the Dynamo, picking up the second assist on Kheli Dube's game-winning goal at Houston on Aug. 25, 2009
• Bobby Shuttleworth is 2-1-0 against Houston, with all three appearances coming on the road...he made six saves in a win on Oct. 10, 2010, at Robertson Stadium; drew the loss in the team's the 2-0 loss on Sept. 29, 2012, at BBVA Compass Stadium; and recorded a shutout win on May 18 in a 2-0 win
• Matt Reis is 5-2-5 in his regular-season career against the Dynamo with an 0.92 goals against average and five shutouts
• Former Rev Steve Ralston is Houston's assistant coach, and still holds a share of the New England career scoring lead against the Dynamo with three goals and one assist in seven regular-season appearances

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: CSN New England, 7:30 PM EDT
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 7:30 PM EDT