Inter Miami vs Houston Dynamo
Inter Miami can take home their second trophy in franchise history here in the US Open Cup, but Houston Dynamo are in their way in the final this Wednesday night at the DRV Pink Stadium.
The Herons got this far by winning against FC Cincinnati in the semi-finals, while the Orange Crush are back here after eliminating Real Salt Lake last month at the same juncture of the tournament.
Inter Miami are in the midst of a resurgence since the arrival of Lionel Messi and friends, and another win here is going to be the culmination of their overall progress.
Like the Herons, the Houston Dynamo are also hoping for a similar outcome under Ben Olsen, who essentially rebuilt this club, which was in a huge mess 12 months ago.
Check out the SBOTOP preview of this game by continuing to read below.
Talking Points
Dynamo’s dynamic midfield duo will be put to the test
Despite standing fourth in the Major League Soccer Western Conference (compared to 14th by Inter Miami in the Eastern Conference), the Houston Dynamo are considered the underdogs, but they have a real chance to spoil the party in South Beach.
That is because they have a strong midfield crop to lean on, with the likes of Hector Herrera, Adalberto Carrasquilla, and Artur leading the way. These three players pretty much dictate the tempo for the Houston Dynamo, and all of them can score goals from time to time.
Herrera is the Orange Crush’s third-leading scorer with four goals, but he tops their assist charts with 14 already this term. This isn’t surprising because most of his advanced statistics are in the top percentile, with successful take-ons (2.09 per 90), progressive passes (9.10 per 90), and passes attempted (76.45 per 90) being his standout numbers.
It also helps that Herrera has faced off with Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets in La Liga several times before.
While Herrera, 33, is the elder statesman, Carrasquilla brings energy and young legs to their midfield, with decent totals of two goals and five assists so far this year.
And Artur, who arrived in a November trade from Columbus, is rounding into form after overcoming injuries. The Brazilian provides much-needed defencive cover in the middle of the park.
Messi doesn’t need to carry Inter Miami
Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba were withdrawn in the first half against Toronto FC, which was concerning at the time for Inter Miami fans, especially since Tata Martino didn’t sound too optimistic about their status after the match.
The former Barca duo is said to be dealing with fatigue, and it’s hard to blame them considering the heavy lifting they’ve done in trying to bring the club out of the rubble in the Eastern Conference.
Perhaps this is an eye-opener for Martino and co. that they cannot solely rely on Messi and his friends to have success since they’re not getting any younger. Fortunately for the Herons, they have the likes of Leonardo Campana, Josef Martinez, and Robert Taylor who can step up.
The three of them are actually Inter Miami’s leading scorers, accounting for 19 league goals combined. Particularly in the US Open Cup, Campana has already scored twice in this tournament.
History
The Houston Dynamo were 1-0 winners in their previous encounter against Inter Miami last April in Major League Soccer. However, they will face a much different squad this Wednesday.
Everything changed for the better for Inter Miami when Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets all arrived this summer, while Tata Martino was tasked with the job of rebuilding the David Beckham-bankrolled squad.
Ben Olsen’s side will be looking to be the fifth team in the competition’s history to win their second US Open Cup trophy. The Orange Crush last won it in 2018, when they defeated the Philadelphia Union 3-0 in the final, courtesy of a brace by Mauro Manotas and a second-half own goal by Auston Trusty.
Betting Tip
The US Open Cup 2023 odds are backing Inter Miami to win their second-ever piece of silverware in midweek. The Herons are priced at 1.68, while the Houston Dynamo are at 3.75 odds to win, and a draw is installed at 3.90 in the 1X2 market.
These two sides are evenly matched on paper, but we’re giving the edge to the Herons, especially if Lionel Messi is going to be 100-per cent fit to give football fans their dose of US Open Cup 2023 highlights.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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