Houston Dynamo v New York Red Bulls: English forwards to shine in goal fest
Expect goals between two sides desperate for points
Houston Dynamo and New York Red Bulls go head-to-head on Friday night in a key battle between two sides locked on 17 points.
Both need to get back to winning ways quickly. The Dynamo return home to BBVA Compass Stadium after back-to-back road trips on either side of the country.
They lost 1-0 at the LA Galaxy before drawing 1-1 against New York City last weekend and will hope to win a second consecutive home game after their 3-1 victory over the Portland Timbers three weeks ago.
The Red Bulls also come into the game desperate to turn things around after suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time this season.
A devastating late loss at the Seattle Sounders on Sunday followed a hugely disappointing 2-0 home defeat to the Philadelphia Union the week before so Jesse Marsch must get his side back on track. And fast.
They still sit third in the Eastern Conference but are eight points off DC United with two games in hand and need to start to catch their rivals.
This is a game that looks too close to call on paper because of their recent form and almost identical records so far, although Houston have played two more games than New York.
One thing that does look guaranteed is that there will be goals. And a fair few of them.
There have been 21 goals in Houston’s last five home games. That’s an average of 4.2 per game.
Add that to the fact that there were nine in the three meetings between the two teams last season, and it’s not hard to imagine this being a thriller. Over 3.5 goals looks a good value bet at 2/1.
Two English strikers will go head-to-head as the Dynamo’s Giles Barnes and the Red Bulls’ Bradley Wright-Phillips will look to fire their team to victory.
Barnes leads Houston in goals so far this term with six. All six of those have come at home and he will hope that trend going in this one.
Meanwhile, Wright-Phillips will be hoping history is on his side as he looks to end a three-game streak without a goal against the team he scored five against in three meetings last year.
His fellow English attacker Lloyd Sam scored the Red Bulls’ first goal in three games at Seattle last week but Wright-Phillips needs to try and fire his team to three points if they are to remain in the hunt for the Supporters’ Shield.
Another man to keep an eye on is Dynamo striker Will Bruin. He’s scored four in his last four and looks on fire.
So there are goals in this tie. But with it being so close to call as far as a result is concerned, both teams to score and a draw looks great value at 7/2.
Over 3.5 goals @ 2/1
Both teams to score & draw @ 7/2
