Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 17/20
Bookmaker: ZetBet
Houston Dynamo make their first trip to Yankee Stadium in five years as they take on New York City FC in Wednesday’s MLS clash.
NYCFC head into the contest buoyed by Sunday’s 3-1 comeback win over the Chicago Fire, a result that kept them in ninth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Meanwhile, the Dynamo battled to a dramatic 3-3 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, climbing to 10th in the Western Conference.
Both sides remain firmly in the hunt for postseason spots and will be eager to build momentum in this midweek showdown.
New York City
Pascal Jansen’s New York City FC kicked off their three-game homestand in style, snapping a two-match MLS losing streak at Yankee Stadium with a 3-1 comeback win over Chicago. Remarkably, it marked their first victory this season after trailing at halftime.
A win on Wednesday against Houston Dynamo would equal NYCFC’s best home winning run of 2024, having notched back-to-back victories at the Bronx venue back in March. However, they remain winless (0-2) against Western Conference teams this year, scoring just once across those matches.
Defensively, NYCFC have been solid at home, conceding one goal or fewer in seven of their eight league games at Yankee Stadium and posting three clean sheets. History is also on their side—they’ve never lost at home to the Dynamo, winning 3-2 in their last Bronx meeting in 2019.
Team News
While Malachi Jones, Andres Perea, and Kevin O’Toole remained sidelined with leg injuries last weekend, Keaton Parks returned as a substitute.
The Pigeons’ second-half scorers against the Fire – Monsef Bakrar, Hannes Wolf, and Alonso Martinez – will look to carry that momentum into Wednesday’s clash.
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo’s recurring inability to close out matches after taking early leads continues to cost them valuable points in 2025. Their 3-3 draw with San Jose marked the ninth point they’ve squandered after opening the scoring—a trend that now sees them sitting one point outside the Western Conference playoff spots.
Ben Olsen’s side remain unbeaten in their last three league outings and could equal their longest such run of the campaign with a positive result against NYCFC. However, their away form has dipped dramatically compared to last season’s t-best eight road wins in the West—this year, they’ve managed just one, a 2-0 triumph over Dallas.
Curiously, the Dynamo have only taken all three points once this season when scoring in the first half, suffering four defeats in such scenarios. Their recent head-to-head record against NYCFC offers modest encouragement, with two wins from their last three meetings, although they’ve never won at Yankee Stadium, where their best result remains a 1-1 draw from 2015.
Team News
Injury concerns persist for Houston. Junior Urso, Erik Sviatchenko, and Daniel Steres missed the Quakes clash with lower-body issues, while Andrew Tarbell, Nelson Quinones, and Lawrence Ennali continue to recover from knee injuries.
To compound matters, weekend goalscorer Ezequiel Ponce is suspended due to yellow card accumulation, leaving a key gap up front for the trip to New York.
Conclusion
New York City FC may be inconsistent, but their cohesion and resilience at home have been evident this season. With Alonso Martinez finding form and the team showing strong defensive structure at Yankee Stadium, the Pigeons look well-positioned to edge out a tight contest.
Houston’s ongoing struggles to hold onto leads, especially away from home, could prove costly again. A narrow NYCFC victory feels like the likeliest outcome.
Verdict: Home win
Best odds: 17/20
Bookmaker: ZetBet
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