Foxy Watch Guide: Portal Cup and Toros Opening Day with questions that need to be answered

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Update (3/7 @ 9:00 AM): Injury Report and Watch Guide.

Portal Cup? B-B-Q Cup? This weekend: Houston’s first road trip of the season ties them with rivals Sporting Kansas City while the Dynamo's USL Championship affiliate Rio Grande Valley FC Toros kick off their fifth season against LA Galaxy II at home.

Last time Houston earned any points on the road was the team's last win on the road, a 3-1 victory over Toronto FC on July 20 this past season. Since then, it has been pretty clear that the Dynamo have yet to figure out how to consistently perform well on the road these past few years. Given that the team was bailed out in 2017 after nearly going undefeated at BBVA Stadium to advance to the MLS Cup Playoffs, road points in the league have been continuously proven to be key to any successful run towards a playoff spot.

Tab Ramos has made it clear that the Dynamo intend to end the team's absence from the big dance, it is up to the squad and his vision to translate a thorough game plan to an opposing team's stadium, especially rivals like Kansas City. Sporting Kansas City look to move past last year's disappointing results and are not afraid to do damage to start the season with the likes of a restructured roster and newcomers Alan Pulido and Gadi Kinda.

Houston's key to an excellent performance lies in the hands of the back line to contain set-pieces and counters. Alberth Elis and Darwin Quintero potentially coming back to the fold would alleviate things up front, however, the team's success still lies on their defensive performance altogether.

Coming back to Texas, the Toros aim to have a strong start to the season at home as they face LA Galaxy II. Entering his third season as head coach for RGVFC, Gerson Echeverry will have a renewed chance to keep working with its own youth program in The Valley and a refreshed Dynamo Academy headed by Paul Holocher, and to hopefully improve the talent pipeline coming in and out of Houston with Tab Ramos taking over for the first time.

RGVFC have yet to qualify to the USL Championship Playoffs since their inaugural season in 2016. Since then, the Toros have looked very inconsistent at home and on the road mostly because of its ever-changing roster of players leaving and entering the Dynamo farm system, making it hard for them to produce positive results on game day. Now that the Dynamo have a new head coach with a great vision on youth development, we will hopefully see the team develop an environment to encourage young and talented players to perform their best along with veteran presence.

Watch Guide

Sporting Kansas City vs. Houston Dynamo

• Major League Soccer (Week 2, Game #21)

• Venue: Children's Mercy Park - Kansas City, Missouri

• Kick Off: 7:30 PM Central Standard Time

• TV: KUBE 57 (English language), TeleXitos (Spanish language)

• Stream: ESPN+ (English and Spanish language)

• Head-to-Head: 32nd meeting in MLS - Dynamo 10W-8L-13D (4W-4L-7D at Kansas City)

• Referees: Allen Chapman (head), Brian Dunn (AR1), Jason White (AR2), Lukasz Szpala (4TH), Hilario Grajeda (VAR), Thomas Supple (VAR2)

• Injury Report: OUT: MF Marcelo Palomino (back), DF Jose Bizama (right ankle). QUESTIONABLE: MF Darwin Quintero (right thigh), DF Victor Cabrera (right hip), FW Alberth Elis (right thigh).

• Kansas City Injury Report: OUT: DF Andreu Fontas (achilles surgery). QUESTIONABLE: MF Felipe Gutierrez (knee injury)

• Trivia of the Match: Houston Dynamo have not won in Kansas City since August 24, 2014, a 3-1 victory backed by goals from Will Bruin, David Horst and Ricardo Clark.

Rio Grande Valley FC Toros vs. LA Galaxy II

• United Soccer League Championship (Week 1)

• Venue: H-E-B Park - Edinburg, Texas

• Kick Off: 6:30 PM Central Standard Time

• Stream: ESPN+ (English language)

Prediction

Houston Dynamo lose 3-2

While the Dynamo are still a great offensive threat, they still have to find their defensive balance and prove that they can string together convincing performances on the road. I can also see them drawing this one. I hope they win though.

Rio Grande Valley FC Toros win 3-1

The Toros do have their intriguing offensive showing now and then and I can see them performing well to start things off. Good chance I miss this one considering it is the first one of the year and I am still not sure about the direction they will take.

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