Pick the Houston Dynamo Starting XI against the Portland Timbers

The Houston Dynamo were finally able to get their first win on the road in their 3-1 win over D. C. United which completed a successful 4 points out of 6 in their two game road trip. The Dynamo came out strong in the first half with goals coming from Andrew Wenger, Mauro Manotas, and homegrown product Memo Rodriguez. The game plan changed a bit in the second half as the team sat back a little, but held onto its first away victory as they only allowed a single goal coming from former Dynamo center back Bobby Boswell. Despite the barrage of chances by their opponents, the team comes back to BBVA Compass Stadium on their most successful road trip of the season.

This week they’re up against the Portland Timbers who currently sit two points behind them and only a single place behind in the standings. In the last meeting the Dynamo fell 4-2 on the road to the Timbers. The first half was a strong effort by the visiting Dynamo, but the second half transitioned to vintage “away form” which saw their 2-1 lead at halftime evaporate into a big loss.

This time the Timbers are on our turf where the Dynamo have been undefeated during the MLS season. The Dynamo will have reinforcements coming with Cubo Torres, Romell Quioto, Alberth Elis, and Oscar Boniek Garcia all returning from their national teams from the Gold Cup. The Dynamo will also have a new face with Tomas Martinez joining in as the heir apparent to the #10 role. Wilmer Cabrera will have plenty of choices for his lineup and up top will be the biggest question mark. With so many of his strikers back it’s tough to see where he would put them all. Honduras definitely worked their players hard during their stint in the Gold Cup, but I would think Alberth Elis starts at RW with Cubo Torres at CF and Mauro Manotas at LW. Romell Quioto just seems like the player that needs more rest given his injury history (though he could certainly start) and Andrew Wenger has played very well in his minutes; I just think this is Cabrera’s go to lineup when Quioto isn’t 100% and I think we see it Saturday.

In the midfield I’m fairly confident to say Tomas Martinez will not be starting seeing as his first full training was earlier this week. He will be a starter and will probably get playing time (we hope), but for now I see Alex Lima, Juan David Cabezas, and Ricardo Clark filling out the midfield.

Along the backline, depending on the health of DaMarcus Beasley, who was a late scratch against DCU, I think we see Beasley, Leonardo, Adolfo Machado, and A. J. DeLaGarza with Tyler Deric in goal.

My Projected Starting Lineup

So who do you want to see lineup against the Portland Timbers? Let us know and feel free to share your choices in the comments section below!