There’s no doubt about it; the Houston Dynamo has to win this game to keep their playoff hopes alive. Matter of fact, they have to win the following game and hope for some good luck with other teams losing along the way. This may play into San Diego’s favor.

Let’s dive in and talk about how.

San Diego FC Seeking Revenge

The last time these two teams met was on Matchday 21. Houston came into San Diego and stopped SDFC’s four-game winning streak. It was San Diego’s first home loss since falling 1-3 to Real Salt Lake in Matchday 10. Houston took home the three points in what was a back-and-forth battle at Snapdragon Stadium.

There is no doubt that SDFC will be seeking revenge this weekend when they travel to Shell Energy Stadium in Houston, Texas.

For San Diego, the stakes are high. A victory on Saturday would not only solidify first place in the Western Conference heading into the final week of the regular season, but it would also set a new MLS expansion record for most wins in a debut campaign.

With 17 victories already secured, San Diego sits level with LAFC’s 2018 mark of 17 and could surpass it with three points in Houston. The club has already clinched a top-four finish and home-field advantage in the opening round of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Mikey Varas’ side enters the match on the back of a narrow 1-0 home defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes on Sept. 27. Despite controlling 63 percent of possession and leading MLS in passes completed this season (19,294), San Diego was unable to find a breakthrough. That said, SDFC remains formidable on the road. The club is unbeaten in its last eight road matches (7-0-1), most recently battling to a 1-1 draw against Atlanta United on Sept. 20.

San Diego’s Roster Issues

There is no doubt that SDFC players have put in a lot of miles on their legs thus far in the 2025 season. Typically, an expansion club has limited options at roster reinforcements due to not having a second team or an MLS Next team established. To date, San Diego FC has faced numerous challenges in creatively assembling its roster to address issues such as injuries and international duty.

Key contributors continue to emerge across the roster. Defender Christopher McVey recently became the third San Diego player to surpass 30 starts this season, joining Anders Dreyer and Jeppe Tverskov.

Squad depth has also been tested, with defender Aiden Harangi returning to the XI and forward Amahl Pellegrino making his third start since arriving midseason. International duty has stretched the roster further, as defender Luca Bombino, goalkeeper Duran Ferree, and midfielder Pedro Soma remain away with the U.S. at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

While the obvious result is first place in the Western Conference, the team is starting to feel the back end of stretching guys thin. SDFC enters the match having won only one game in their last five. They lost two and drew two in the other four.

Who Steps Up in the Nine?

How many more opportunities will Amahl Pellegrino get at the number nine position? That is the question many frustrated fans are asking right now. Clearly, Pellegrino hasn’t been a contributing factor on offense. In his past four games, three as a starter, he’s managed five shots in total.

When head coach Mikey Varas was asked about what the club is looking for in a striker, he listed three key things.

“The three things that we ask of the number nine in priority is: number one: arriving and being dangerous, scoring goals, making sure you’re getting into scoring position – that’s your number one job. Number two is about being really good in the press, so kind of being the tip of the spear in our press. Number three is to stretch the team in behind. Get in behind because we have a lot of players who can play in the pocket. So, if we have a double threat, meaning Hirving and somebody else running in behind, it creates a lot of space there, or you’ll end up getting one-v-ones like we’ve seen throughout the season”, Varas said.

Corey Baird dealt with an injury shortly after his debut, but now appears fully fit and has been making regular appearances off the bench. Known around the league for his relentless work rate, Baird has arguably looked the more dangerous of San Diego’s two striker options, showing strong chemistry with Anders Dreyer. With the striker role still unsettled, Baird has earned the opportunity to make his case in the final two matches of the regular season.

Other Striker Options

The other option Varas could go with is giving Tomas Angel another chance as a striker. With time to improve on the practice squad, Angel could be in a position to refuel the fire and prove to everyone that he’s a valuable asset to this club.

Valakari can also play in the false-nine position, but he has been more effective in midfield. With miles on the legs of veteran Anibal Godoy and Luca de la Torre, Valakari provides a valuable replacement.

Whatever decision the coaching staff makes regarding the striker position, SDFC is in a good spot. Competition for a starting spot typically brings out the best in players. With two matches left before the postseason, that internal battle could prove crucial in sharpening the attack. The club is still anticipating Marcus Ingvartsen’s return in the playoffs.

Keys to the Game

For Houston, the stakes are equally urgent, though for different reasons. The Dynamo enter the contest at 9-14-9 (36 points) and are fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. They arrive home after a 3-1 defeat to Nashville SC at GEODIS Park, and with just two matches remaining, every point is crucial if they hope to sneak into the postseason picture. A strong home performance against one of the league’s best would give Houston a much-needed boost.

The Dynamo have won two, lost two, and drawn one in their last five matches. They’ll be without their starting center back, Erik Sviatchen, who is out due to a red card. Jack McGlynn will be available this time around, as San Diego didn’t have to deal with playing against him in the last match due to international duty. The Houston assist leader and second-highest goal scorer is a significant part of the Dynamo’s recent success.

San Diego will hope that Houston plays with a little more risk, given the Dynamo’s desperate need for points. Recently, teams have found success playing in a low block against SDFC. The opponents stopped taking risks against San Diego, instead opting to defend first and try to capitalize on a few mistakes. One thing that San Diego will surely focus on will be finishing the chances they will create, if they can do that – the good record on the road should continue.

Saturday’s matchup features two teams heading in different directions, but both are equally desperate for points. San Diego is eyeing history while sharpening its form for the playoffs, while Houston is battling to extend its season beyond Decision Day. With both sides motivated and the memory of their wild July contest still fresh, fans can expect another high-stakes, attacking affair in Texas.

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Dmitry Anisimov

Dmitry Anisimov is a San Diego native who played soccer up to the college level when he represented the SDSU Men’s Club Soccer team. Growing up in San Diego, Dmitry is a fan of all the home teams but he specifically couldn’t wait until San Diego got an MLS team. Once that dream became reality, Dmitry married his love for writing and the game of soccer to portray a voice of the San Diego soccer community. There is a deep-rooted love of soccer culture in San Diego and Dmitry hopes to bring it to light through his pre and post-game coverage of all things San Diego FC.