Pick the Starting Lineup: Houston Dynamo vs. Minnesota United FC

The Houston Dynamo finally snapped their winless streak and now hope to build their first winning streak of the season as they head north to face Minnesota United FC. The Dynamo looked like themselves in their 5-1 win over Toronto FC last night, but some of that has to do with Toronto resting many of its starters for Champions League. Still, one of the primary areas the Dynamo have struggled to put up W’s has been their finishing which hopefully is behind them after scoring 5 goals last week.

Wilmer Cabrera will likely stick with his top attacking three from last week who each scored and Romell Quioto had a hand in all goals scored against TFC. Alongside Quioto should be Mauro Manotas and Alberth Elis who will look to feast on a Loons side that has given up the third most goals in the league.

In midfield, until Juan David Cabezas returns from injury or Luis Gil puts on a show, we’ll likely continue to see Darwin Cerén as the primary defensive midfielder, Tomás Martínez as the attacking midfielder, and Eric Alexander somewhere in between. Gil is likely to play either in Martínez’s spot if Martínez were unavailable, but he can also play on the left or right – probably as a winger rather than a midfielder with defensive duties.

The defensive line is the area the Dynamo seem to have the most variation. DaMarcus Beasley is the de facto starter at left back unless he becomes injured or Cabrera opts to rest the veteran. Corey Roepken wrote about the Dynamo’s newest acquisition left back Adam Lundqvist, but also noted that Dylan Remick is still recovering and that he has a history of concussions which makes it difficult to put a time table on his return. Philippe Senderos was training last week with the first team, but continues to be listed on the injury report so I’ll keep him out of the running for a return for now.

The center backs I expect are Leonardo and Adolfo Machado. At right back, Kevin Garcia is listed as questionable on the injury report, but I think Wilmer Cabrera may have found a keeper at right back until A. J. DeLaGarza returns in Andrew Wenger.

My Projected Starting Lineup

There are a ton of options, not to mention formations to play with so let us know who you think should be in the starting lineup against Minnesota United FC!