Injury Report
OUT:

• M – Bernardo Anor (L Lower Leg)
• M – Sam Cronin (Head)
• M/D – Thomas de Villardi (L Achilles)

Training Notes

• Minnesota United’s 42^nd pick from the 2017 MLS SuperDraft continues to make progress as he works to come back from an Achilles injury that’s kept him out for the entire season. He is now engaged in regular practice in addition to continued rehab work with assistant athletic trainer Stacey Hardin.
• Sam Cronin remains sidelined with a head injury that’s kept him out of the team’s last several matches. Collin Martin has started in his place and put in solid work in the holding midfielder role alongside Ibson.

Gaffer’s Quote

Adrian Heath on how his squad compares now to when they drew Houston at home early in the season: “I think physically, mentally, every way you can look at it we’re a better unit than we were then. We played particularly well at that particular time. I think it was arguably our best performance of the season to that point because we should have won the game. I remember Christian having two or three great opportunities and should have had a penalty early on, which would have led to a red card. So not a lot went for us other than the result. But when I look back at where they were then and where they are now, I think we’ve improved and they’re probably on a little blip. But one thing that we cannot underestimate is that they’re still really in the thick of the playoff hunt. If they were to get three points [today] and a couple of results to go their way, they’re right back in it.”

Marquee Matchups

• Alberth Elis vs. Marc Burch: Elis was critical to Houston’s comeback against LA Galaxy in the midweek match and is always dangerous when lurking in the box. Burch is still getting back to full fitness and will have to keep up with the extremely athletic Elis, who ran circles around Gyasi Zardes last match.
• Damarcus Beasley vs. Ethan Finlay: MLS veteran Beasley has had to face some of the best to play the game in the U.S., but the pace of Finlay has been challenging for many outside backs. His speed on the wings and timing of his runs has set up every goal he has been involved in. Beasley will have to play very smart in the back to keep Finlay off the board.