New York Red Bulls
- Record: 4-3-5, 17 points, third place in Eastern Conference
- Previous Match: Loss, 2-1 at Seattle Sounders
- Record in Last Five Matches: 1-3-1
- Leading Goal Scorer: Bradley Wright-Phillips (5)
- Assist Leader: Felipe/Bradley Wright-Phillips/Lloyd Sam (3)
- Saves Leader: Luis Robles (26)
Houston Dynamo
- Record: 4-5-5, 17 points, eighth place in Western Conference
- Previous Match: Draw, 1-1 at New York City FC
- Record in Last Five Matches: 1-3-1
- Leading Goal Scorer: Giles Barnes (6)
- Assist Leader: Brad Davis (4)
- Saves Leader: Tyler Deric (39)
Scouting Houston
The Dynamo have had an up-and-down start to the 2015 season in an extremely competitive Western Conference. Scottish-born coach Owen Coyle was named the second head coach in Dynamo history ahead of 2015. Coyle most recently managed Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic in England.
Coyle’s squad has utilized a 4-4-1-1 formation which has proved to spark the successful campaigns for forwards Will Bruin and Giles Barnes. Bruin and Barnes have combined for 11 of the team’s 17 goals, with five and six, respectively.
Houston played in a hard fought game last weekend vs. NYC FC. The 1-1 draw was the result of a physical battle, one that saw 32 fouls throughout the game. Houston jumped out to an early lead when Will Bruin was able to score off of a corner kick in the 16th minute. Just before half it was David Villa who converted a penalty kick awarded after a handball inside the penalty area. The teams would remain scoreless in the second half and the game ended in a draw.
Players to Watch
Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips has six goals in five career games against Houston.
The Englishman scored the first goal of his MLS career against Houston in October of 2013. In 2014, BWP jump-started his Golden Boot campaign with a hat trick against the Dynamo on April 23. He followed that up with two goals at BBVA Compass in a 2-2 draw on July 4.
Wright-Phillips again leads the team with five goals, but has been getting more support this year. Winger Lloyd Sam is right behind him with four, just one off his MLS career-high of five (2013). Attacking midfielder Sacha Kljestan and opposite winger Mike Grella have each scored twice.
Giles Barnes and Will Bruin have grabbed the attention of the Houston faithful this season. The attacking duo, as noted above, have combined for 11 of the team’s 17 goals this season. Barnes has struck six times from the central attacking midfield role, while true forward Will Bruin has five goals to his name.
Barnes, who scored one goal last season vs. the Red Bulls, is well on his way to topping the career-high of 11 he set last season.
Barnes is currently fourth in the league with 44 shots, and his 15 shots on goal are eighth across MLS. Wright-Phillips has found the target more often, finding the net with 18 of his 38 shots, good for fifth in the league in shots on goal.
