Red Bulls ready for potential trap game vs. Dynamo

Losers of three straight in league play, the Houston Dynamo are hoping to turn around their form ahead of what could be a tough stretch of matches. Their opponent Wednesday night, the visiting New York Red Bulls, could be in for a classic trap game ahead of their own tough run of the schedule.

The midweek match is one the Red Bulls could potentially look past. This Sunday, they play reigning MLS Cup champions Atlanta United. The following weekend, they host rival New York City FC, who have been in top form this year.

While it has certainly been a bounceback season for the Dynamo, who missed the playoffs last year, things certainly have not gone easily for the club in recent weeks. Call-ups for the Gold Cup have decimated head coach Wilmer Cabrera's selection. The loss of several big names has coincided with a stretch of three losses in the regular season and a defeat in the U.S. Open Cup, the annual tournament that the team won last year.

But Cabrera said the whole squad is back together, and he is happy to see a full unit once again.

"It was almost a month that we were all spread out," Cabrera said. "We couldn't have the whole roster even practicing. That is important for our goal and motivation."

Red Bulls head coach Chris Armas said it will be important for his squad to take care of the ball, counter-press and keep its balance. He added Houston is "built for attacking and transition."

"We know (Mauro) Manotas up top is very dangerous, doesn't need a lot of chances to score. (Romell) Quioto is very dangerous, oftentimes high and wide," Armas said. "They commit numbers forward, so we can maybe try to catch them the other way in different moments. They're a good team. They haven't gotten all their results in the last few games but they've been missing some players."

For the Red Bulls, Wednesday's match is a chance to rebound, despite grabbing a win on Friday. In a 3-1 win over the Chicago Fire, the Red Bulls were outshot and out-possessed in what wasn't an encouraging display.

--Field Level Media