Sounders-Dynamo Preview

Just over a month into the season, the Western Conference cellar remains befuddling with the MLS Cup holder as one of two clubs leading recent power Seattle by a point.

The other team ahead of the Sounders by the slimmest margin is far less surprisingly a Houston squad that's missed the playoffs the last two years, yet through the down seasons the Dynamo still have never conceded three points at home to Seattle.

A home kit has been all either club has needed for success in the all-time series with the Dynamo (1-2-1) going 4-0-2 in Houston. The Sounders (1-3-0) are 5-0-2 in Seattle. Neither club has ever scored two goals in a visiting role. The Dynamo own an 11-5 advantage in their home matches while the Sounders have compiled a 10-2 aggregate in theirs, and neither team has ever won a meeting by more than a 2-0 or 3-1 margin.

Granted, Houston hasn't always been a postseason afterthought with plenty of silverware prior to this lull, but Seattle mainstay Brad Evans acknowledged the state of the Houston franchise hasn't made anything easier on the Sounders.

"Historically they've been a good team," the center back told the club's official website. "Sometimes you match up with teams better than others, and for whatever reason they've just had our number, especially in Houston. Teams have changed, coaches have changed, but still, they find a way to get a result against us down there. It's a difficult place to play, fast, physical, they'll be buzzing."

Last season was the clubs' first in the same conference with Seattle winning 1-0 on April 4, 2015, before a 1-1 draw in Houston on Oct. 18. Seattle's goals both came from the departed Obafemi Martins, and there's plenty pointing toward the Nigerian's move to Shanghai to explain the struggles this season.

Seattle has three goals - tied for league worst entering the weekend - and it's still awaiting production to go along with the arrival of Jordan Morris. The United States international has managed one shot on target in his first four professional matches.

The Sounders are, however, coming off a 1-0 home win over Montreal on April 2 after Clint Dempsey's 79th-minute strike. Individually, it followed a promising effort with a goal and an assist in a World Cup qualifier against Guatemala on March 29, but the American admitted his club isn't quite clicking.

"We're still trying to figure out the best way we're gonna play," said Dempsey, who's goalless in six career matches against the Dynamo dating to his first MLS stint. "But it also comes with confidence. We were on a little bit of a slide in the three losses in a row, and it was finally good to get this win, and you start to see the boys be a little more confident. I think you'll start seeing us play a little more with our chests out, and good things will come from there."

The Dynamo have been off since a 1-0 loss in Vancouver on March 26, and that was their first result that didn't include at least five goals. The 11 for and 19 total involved in their matches were easily the most in MLS entering the weekend, and they're embracing that style of play before a key clash with a club on the other end of the goal spectrum.

"Over the last couple of years, we've taken a lot of flak from fans and critics that we weren't a very exciting team to watch," David Horst told the club's official website. "I think in our first two games at home, we showed we're a very exciting, dynamic team this year."

That should only take a step forward with Giles Barnes returning from a hamstring injury.