San Jose Earthquakes vs Houston Dynamo
Earthquakes edge Dynamo with Munie's strike
San Jose's D. Munie nets the only goal to secure a narrow home win.
San Jose Earthquakes claimed a tight 1-0 victory over Houston Dynamo thanks to D. Munie's first-half goal at 38 minutes. Despite Fipster's medium-confidence prediction favouring an away win for Houston, the home side held firm to upset expectations and take all three points.
Outcome probability
As the MLS regular season rolls on, San Jose Earthquakes face off against Houston Dynamo in what promises to be a closely contested encounter. Both sides have shown solid form, but the Dynamo look poised to nick a narrow win.
Match factors
San Jose missing key attackers including Timo Werner
Werner, a key attacker with 4 goals this season, is confirmed out, weakening San Jose's attacking options
Preston Judd's strong away scoring form
Judd has scored 3 goals in last 6 away matches, above league average for attackers
Nikolas Tsakiris as key creative force for San Jose
Tsakiris leads assists with 5 in 14 games, providing key chances especially away
Guilherme's consistent scoring for Houston
Guilherme has 12 goals this season and recent goal contributions, driving Houston's attack
Houston missing goalkeeper and defender out
Houston's starting goalkeeper and defender Felipe Andrade are confirmed out, possibly affecting defensive stability
The context
San Jose Earthquakes currently sit 6th in the league with 35 points from 23 games, while Houston Dynamo hold a stronger 2nd place with 43 points from 24 matches. Historically, Houston have had the upper hand in this fixture, winning 11 of their 20 meetings compared to San Jose's 4 victories. This season, both teams have demonstrated competitive form, but Houston's consistency has been notable.
Key insights
Preston Judd
San Jose Earthquakes
Judd has been a reliable scorer away from home with 3 goals in his last 6 away matches, making him a key threat despite San Jose's injury woes.
Major League Soccer 26/2711 goals, 19 appearances, 0.58 goals/game
Nikolas Tsakiris
San Jose Earthquakes
Tsakiris leads the team with 5 assists in 14 games and has been particularly effective creating chances on the road recently.
Major League Soccer 26/275 assists, 14 appearances, 0.36 assists/game
Guilherme
Houston Dynamo
Guilherme is Houston's top scorer with 12 goals and has been consistently contributing to their attack, including recent goals in the last five matches.
Major League Soccer 26/2712 goals, 22 appearances, 0.55 goals/game
Analysis
Houston Dynamo's attack is spearheaded by Guilherme, who has netted 12 goals this season and continues to find the back of the net regularly. Despite missing their starting goalkeeper and defender Felipe Andrade, Houston's defensive resilience remains intact. San Jose will miss key attacker Timo Werner, which could blunt their offensive threat. Preston Judd leads San Jose's scoring with 11 goals and has been effective away from home, but Houston's overall form and tactical discipline suggest they will edge this one. The prediction of a 1-0 halftime and fulltime scoreline reflects a tight match where a single goal could decide the outcome.
Key facts
- 1.Houston Dynamo are 2nd in the league with 43 points from 24 games.
- 2.San Jose Earthquakes are 6th with 35 points from 23 games.
- 3.Houston have won 11 of the 20 head-to-head matches against San Jose.
- 4.San Jose's Timo Werner is out, weakening their attack.
- 5.Guilherme leads Houston with 12 goals this season.
- 6.Preston Judd has scored 11 goals for San Jose, including 3 in last 6 away games.
- 7.Prediction favours a 1-0 away win for Houston.
- 8.Four total cards are expected in the match.
Prediction
Expect Houston Dynamo to take an early lead and hold on for a 1-0 victory. The match is likely to be cagey, with both sides cautious but Houston's attacking edge and San Jose's injury concerns tipping the balance. Four cards are predicted, indicating a competitive but controlled game.
Player Insights
Standout players Fipster expects to impact the match — curated highlights, not full squad lists
Home — San Jose Earthquakes
Away — Houston Dynamo
The verdict
In summary, Houston Dynamo's consistent scoring and San Jose's injury setbacks point towards a narrow away win. Fans should brace for a tense encounter where defensive solidity and a moment of quality could make all the difference.
Form as the teams went into this match — excludes this result and anything since.
Team Comparison
Season shape — attack, defence, form, clean sheets & win rate
Home vs Away comparison
Goal difference in each of the last few fixtures — above the line is a net win, below is a net loss
Season comparison
Goals scored & conceded, goal difference and clean sheets across the season
Halftime Performance
What each side does once the whistle goes for half time
Streaks
Recent-form runs — each side’s most-recent game meets in the middle
Head to Head
Vieira
Yellow Card
Yellow Card
Leroux
Yellow Card
Munie
Assist: Leroux
Samassékou
Leroux
Tsakiris
Resch
Yellow Card
Ibrahim
McGuire
Bouda
Löwen
Andrade
Kikanovic
Yellow Card
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Vancouver Whitecaps | 24 | 14 | 4 | 6 | +30 | 46 |
| 2 |  Houston Dynamo | 25 | 13 | 4 | 8 | +4 | 43 |
| 3 |  FC Dallas | 25 | 12 | 7 | 6 | +7 | 43 |
| 4 |  San Jose Earthquakes | 25 | 12 | 5 | 8 | +8 | 41 |
| 5 |  St. Louis City | 25 | 11 | 8 | 6 | +7 | 41 |
Match Statistics
San Jose Earthquakes
3-4-2-1Starting XI
- 1A. GunnG
- 2J. RickettsM
- 4D. RomneyD
- 5D. MunieD
- 7O. BoudaF
- 10N. TsakirisM
- 14R. VieiraM
- 17Jack JasinskiD
- 23E. LöwenM
- 28B. KikanovicM
- 34Beau LerouxM
Substitutes
- 3P. MarieD
- 6I. HarkesM
- 9L. JovanovićF
- 16J. SkahanM
- 20N. FernandezM
- 21N. BuckM
- 31Francesco MontaliG
- 40J. GónzalezM
- 87Vítor CostaD
Houston Dynamo
4-2-3-1Starting XI
- 5Lucas HalterD
- 6ArturM
- 11L. EnnaliD
- 18D. SamassékouM
- 19M. BoguszM
- 20GuilhermeM
- 23D. McGuireF
- 24A. IbrahimM
- 31J. BondG
- 34A. ReschD
- 36Felipe AndradeD
Substitutes
- 3Antônio CarlosD
- 14D. HolmesM
- 16H. HerreraM
- 17N. MarkanichF
- 21F. NegriD
- 22M. AranaM
- 26B. GillinghamG
- 30A. BouzatM
- 37G. RiveraM
San Jose Earthquakes
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Munie | D | 90 | 8.3 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Beau Leroux | M | 69 | 7.6 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 1/1 |
| D. Romney | D | 90 | 7.6 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| A. Gunn | G | 90 | 7.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jack Jasinski | D | 90 | 7.5 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Skahan | M | 8 | 7.2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| E. Löwen | M | 82 | 7.0 | — | — | 3 | — | 1 | 1/2 |
| J. Ricketts | M | 90 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/3 |
| I. Harkes | M | 21 | 6.8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| N. Fernandez | M | 21 | 6.8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| N. Tsakiris | M | 69 | 6.7 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — |
| B. Kikanovic | M | 90 | 6.7 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1/2 |
| L. Jovanović | F | 8 | 6.4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| R. Vieira | M | 90 | 6.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| O. Bouda | F | 82 | 6.3 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 3/6 |
| N. Buck | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| P. Marie | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Francesco Montali | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Vítor Costa | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| J. Gónzalez | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Houston Dynamo
| Player | Pos | Min | Rating | G | A | Shots | SoT | Key Passes | Dribbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artur | M | 90 | 7.2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| L. Ennali | D | 90 | 6.9 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2/6 |
| A. Resch | D | 90 | 6.8 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| H. Herrera | M | 25 | 6.7 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| D. Samassékou | M | 65 | 6.6 | — | — | — | — | — | 1/1 |
| Guilherme | M | 90 | 6.5 | — | — | 2 | — | — | 1/1 |
| Felipe Andrade | D | 85 | 6.5 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| M. Bogusz | M | 90 | 6.4 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 0/1 |
| N. Markanich | F | 13 | 6.3 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| M. Arana | M | 12 | 6.3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Ibrahim | M | 77 | 6.2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0/1 |
| Lucas Halter | D | 90 | 6.1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| J. Bond | G | 90 | 6.1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. McGuire | F | 78 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| F. Negri | D | 5 | 5.9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| B. Gillingham | G | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| G. Rivera | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| A. Bouzat | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Antônio Carlos | D | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| D. Holmes | M | 0 | 0.0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |