Orlando City v Houston Dynamo: Spicer open to new role after return from injury

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ShareEarly strugglers Orlando City and the Houston Dynamo go head-to-head at Inter&Co Stadium as both sides look for a much-needed win.Tyrese Spicer revealed he is happy to play in a different role for Orlando City after returning from his groin injury.The 25-year-old missed Orlando's defeats to Nashville SC (5-0) and Los Angeles FC (6-0) with a groin injury, but made his return in their US Open Cup win over FC Naples.Spicer scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory, though he did so while playing as a right-winger.The forward usually operates as a striker, but was utilised in a different role by interim head coach Martin Perelman.Spicer was pleased to get a goal in an important win as Orlando now prepare to take on the Houston Dynamo in MLS."It was good to get back out there and play with the teammates," said Spicer."We trained so hard during the week and this was a tough opponent. They came out, and they gave their heart and souls, but we also gave our heart and souls, and we came out with that edge and goal, and it was a good victory for us."It’s a new thing playing on the right side. I think coach Martin [Perelman] told me just to be yourself on the right."Being out with a groin injury for so long, for like a month, and just having a few training sessions under my belt and playing 70 minutes is a pretty good day."Orlando have struggled in MLS this term, with just one win from seven games (D1 L6).They conceded an equaliser in the 80th minute against the Columbus Crew last time out, drawing the match 1-1.Orlando have now conceded a goal in 23 straight regular-season matches, the longest streak in club history, the longest active streak in MLS, and tied for the 14th longest in MLS history.However, Houston have not fared much better in 2026, with a 6-2 defeat to the Colorado Rapids leaving the Dynamo 12th in the Western Conference.PLAYERS TO WATCHOrlando City – Ivan AnguloIvan Angulo has provided the most assists for Orlando in MLS this season (two) after setting up Marco Pasalic's goal against Columbus.Angulo also led his side in touches (74), completed passes (43), successful dribbles (two) and possession won (nine).Houston Dynamo – GuilhermeGuilherme recorded a goal and an assist last time out against Colorado, taking his total to nine goal contributions this season (five goals, four assists), tied with Rafael Navarro for most in MLS.Guilherme is the first Dynamo player to total nine goal contributions in his first six games of a season since Brian Ching in 2006 (also nine).MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WINThe first six regular-season meetings between Orlando City and Houston Dynamo have been split, with each side winning twice (D2). The most recent league meeting between the sides was a 2-1 win for the Lions in Orlando in June 2022.Orlando avoided defeat for just the second time this season with a draw at Columbus on Sunday. Even with the point, the Lions’ four points are half as many as they have had after seven games in any previous season (eight in 2015 and 2019).Houston tied a club record by conceding six goals in a defeat at Colorado (third time in MLS play).The Dynamo have allowed 10 goals in their first two away matches this season, equalling the most through two away matches of a season in MLS history, a mark set by Orlando earlier this year.OPTA WIN PROBABILITYOrlando City – 52.3%Draw – 24.3%Houston Dynamo – 23.4%Early strugglers Orlando City and the Houston Dynamo go head-to-head at Inter&Co Stadium as both sides look for a much-needed win.Tyrese Spicer revealed he is happy to play in a different role for Orlando City after returning from his groin injury.The 25-year-old missed Orlando's defeats to Nashville SC (5-0) and Los Angeles FC (6-0) with a groin injury, but made his return in their US Open Cup win over FC Naples.Spicer scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory, though he did so while playing as a right-winger.The forward usually operates as a striker, but was utilised in a different role by interim head coach Martin Perelman.Spicer was pleased to get a goal in an important win as Orlando now prepare to take on the Houston Dynamo in MLS."It was good to get back out there and play with the teammates," said Spicer."We trained so hard during the week and this was a tough opponent. They came out, and they gave their heart and souls, but we also gave our heart and souls, and we came out with that edge and goal, and it was a good victory for us."It’s a new thing playing on the right side. I think coach Martin [Perelman] told me just to be yourself on the right."Being out with a groin injury for so long, for like a month, and just having a few training sessions under my belt and playing 70 minutes is a pretty good day."Orlando have struggled in MLS this term, with just one win from seven games (D1 L6).They conceded an equaliser in the 80th minute against the Columbus Crew last time out, drawing the match 1-1.Orlando have now conceded a goal in 23 straight regular-season matches, the longest streak in club history, the longest active streak in MLS, and tied for the 14th longest in MLS history.However, Houston have not fared much better in 2026, with a 6-2 defeat to the Colorado Rapids leaving the Dynamo 12th in the Western Conference.PLAYERS TO WATCHOrlando City – Ivan AnguloIvan Angulo has provided the most assists for Orlando in MLS this season (two) after setting up Marco Pasalic's goal against Columbus.Angulo also led his side in touches (74), completed passes (43), successful dribbles (two) and possession won (nine).Houston Dynamo – GuilhermeGuilherme recorded a goal and an assist last time out against Colorado, taking his total to nine goal contributions this season (five goals, four assists), tied with Rafael Navarro for most in MLS.Guilherme is the first Dynamo player to total nine goal contributions in his first six games of a season since Brian Ching in 2006 (also nine).MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WINThe first six regular-season meetings between Orlando City and Houston Dynamo have been split, with each side winning twice (D2). The most recent league meeting between the sides was a 2-1 win for the Lions in Orlando in June 2022.Orlando avoided defeat for just the second time this season with a draw at Columbus on Sunday. Even with the point, the Lions’ four points are half as many as they have had after seven games in any previous season (eight in 2015 and 2019).Houston tied a club record by conceding six goals in a defeat at Colorado (third time in MLS play).The Dynamo have allowed 10 goals in their first two away matches this season, equalling the most through two away matches of a season in MLS history, a mark set by Orlando earlier this year.OPTA WIN PROBABILITYOrlando City – 52.3%Draw – 24.3%Houston Dynamo – 23.4%