Nashville — Houston Dynamo : Match Preview and Prediction for September 28,2025

Nashville’s Impregnable Home Ground

GEODIS Park. A fortress. This is the first thought that comes to mind when considering Nashville’s home matches this season. Just look at the record: 10 wins and 3 draws in 15 encounters on their home turf. This places them third across the entire league. The team has completely transformed compared to last year, turning their home stadium into an unassailable bastion where nearly every opponent struggles to earn points. The trend is clear: Nashville has won 13 of their last 17 home fixtures.

Potent Attacking Threat: Surridge and Mukhtar

In attack, the hosts boast Sam Surridge. This Englishman is currently battling Messi for the Golden Boot, having already netted 21 goals. Recently, he scored a hat-trick in the US Open Cup semifinals, propelling his team into the final. Alongside him operates Hany Mukhtar, an MVP candidate with 15 goals and 11 assists. This formidable duo presents a genuine nightmare for any defense.

Resilience and Playoff Ambitions

Indeed, Nashville experienced a losing streak in recent rounds, but a closer look reveals more. Their last two defeats came away from home, and on both occasions, the team conceded an equalizer in added time, in the 98th and 97th minutes respectively. This indicates a fighting spirit right to the very end, rather than a collapse. Now, Nashville returns home, where they need just one victory to secure a playoff spot. All the cards are in their hands, and they are poised to play them on their own field.

Houston Dynamo’s Playoff Battle

Houston is fighting for a playoff spot, but their position in the Western Conference table does not inspire much optimism. The team sits in 10th place, and every misstep could prove fatal. A recent victory over Portland snapped a rather unfavorable run, but the overall picture over the last period looks weak. Just two wins in their last ten league matches is not the record with which one can confidently visit one of ‘s best home teams.

Defensive Woes for Houston

Personnel issues are particularly acute, significantly impacting their defensive line. The club will be without several key defenders. Antonio Carlos, Ethan Bartlow, and Franco Escobar, all starting players, are injured. Adding to this list is the suspension of another primary defender, Pablo Ortiz. Facing Nashville’s attacking prowess, with Surridge and Mukhtar, with such a depleted defense, is almost a death sentence.

Away Form and Attacking Disparity

The Dynamo’s away game statistics are also far from impressive. The team performs with inconsistent success on the road, but they will find it extremely difficult against an organized and powerful home side. Their top scorer, Ezequiel Ponce, has netted 10 goals – more than twice less than Surridge alone. The difference in attacking potential and the personnel losses in defense create an exceptionally challenging situation for Houston.