St. Louis City vs 23.08.26 00:302 – 1Full Time
Houston Dynamo — Major League Soccer: stats, lineups & analysis
Match report
St. Louis City edge Houston Dynamo with late Polvara winner
St. Louis City came from behind in the closing stages to beat Houston Dynamo 2-1 in a Major League Soccer Regular Season - 21 fixture at Energizer Park. Simon Becher had put the hosts ahead in the first half, before Houston levelled late on, only for Dante Polvara to restore the advantage with ten minutes remaining.
AI-assisted match report written from official match data.
Becher opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, converting an assist from Alexandru Mățan to send St. Louis in front at the break, with the score at 1-0 at half-time. Houston pushed back into the contest in the second half and drew level through Aliyu Ibrahim in the 75th minute, setting up a tense finish.
St. Louis had the final word when Polvara struck in the 85th minute to make it 2-1 and settle the contest. Houston had enjoyed 53 percent of possession and produced 18 shots to St. Louis's nine, but the sides were level on shots on target at four apiece, and it was the hosts who found the decisive moments to claim victory.
Polvara scored the late winner for St. Louis City and was rated 7.3, while Jaziel Orozco and Timo Baumgartl were the standout figures on the night with ratings of 7.5 apiece.
Despite having less of the ball and fewer shots overall, St. Louis matched Houston with four shots on target each, underlining their efficiency in front of goal.
St. Louis City beat Houston Dynamo 2–1 (half-time 1–0).
St. Louis City met Houston Dynamo in the Major League Soccer (Regular Season - 21). Kick-off was Sunday, 23 August 2026, 00:30 UTC at CITYPARK. Referee: A. Da Silva.
Team pages: St. Louis City · Houston Dynamo · Major League Soccer
Key moments
- 23' Goal: Simon Becher (assist: Alexandru Mățan) — 1–0
- 75' Goal: Aliyu Ibrahim — 1–1
- 85' Goal: Dante Polvara — 2–1
Starting line-ups
St. Louis City (3-4-3)
Houston Dynamo (4-2-3-1)
Sirius · Why these numbers
Before kick-off Sirius gave St. Louis City 48%, the draw 26%, Houston Dynamo 26%. It finished St. Louis City 2–1 Houston Dynamo.
Level sides, home ground swings it — Nothing separates them on our strength rating, and Major League Soccer home advantage plus Houston Dynamo's hot finishing due to cool give St. Louis City the lean. The draw at 26% is nudged down by the same factors that shape the win chances.
Why St. Louis City in front?
Home ground, mostly. Almost nothing between them on our strength rating — 1588 to 1607. Sides this close won 43.2% of 15,803 home games (draw 26.7%, visitors 30.1%). Major League Soccer home sides out-perform the global norm — and the difference mostly flows to away wins (25.8% vs 30.2%). Major League Soccer homes won 49.4% of 5,101 games vs 44.9% across all 99,210 — outside the noise band, so the tally moves accordingly. Houston Dynamo scored +0.45 goals per game beyond chance-quality lately — hot streaks like that have cooled off. Visitors running this hot went on to win 29.0% of 1,446 games, vs 28.9% for visitors finishing normally.
Why only 48%?
Because on our strength rating there is nothing in it. St. Louis City scored +0.30 goals per game beyond chance-quality — home sides this hot gave some of it back. Opponents of hot-finishing home sides won 28.5% of 1,463 games, vs 27.9% against normal finishing.
Why the draw at 26%?
Between sides this level the draw starts at 26.7%. These teams' recent games average 2.5 goals — a typical goals environment. Games in that environment drew 26.2% of 27,608. The cool-off factor takes 1.9 points off the draw. The goals environment adds 1.4 points to the draw.
What did we measure but not count?
St. Louis City have gained 82 strength-rating points over their last 10 games. Momentum is measured but not yet proven: climbing sides won 41.5% of 12,189 such games vs 40.7% class-expected — inside the noise band, so it stays at 0 points until the receipt clears its evidence bar. Houston Dynamo have gained 64 strength-rating points over their last 10 games. The other measured facts on this page scored nothing either.
Sirius probabilities, frozen at kick-off. Analysis, not betting advice. How Sirius is doing this season · Full breakdown, evidence cards and squad news in the Match Insights tab
About this match
On this page: the St. Louis City vs Houston Dynamo final score and result, goal highlights and video clips of every goal, who scored, starting lineups, match stats and the full match report from this Major League Soccer fixture.
- Who scored and when — a goal-by-goal timeline of the match.
- Match stats — possession, shots, expected goals (xG), corners and cards.
- Starting lineups and player ratings for both teams.
- Head-to-head record and recent form for both sides.
Watch the goals: goal highlights and video clips of every goal from St. Louis City 2–1 Houston Dynamo. Explore more on the St. Louis City and Houston Dynamo team pages or the Major League Soccer page.
Quick answers
›What was the final score of St. Louis City vs Houston Dynamo?
St. Louis City beat Houston Dynamo 2–1 (half-time 1–0).
›Who scored in St. Louis City vs Houston Dynamo?
Simon Becher (23') for St. Louis City; Aliyu Ibrahim (75') for Houston Dynamo; Dante Polvara (85') for St. Louis City.
›Where can I watch St. Louis City vs Houston Dynamo highlights?
Goal highlights and video clips from St. Louis City 2–1 Houston Dynamo are on this page — open the videos tab to watch every goal.
›What is the head-to-head record between St. Louis City and Houston Dynamo?
St. Louis City and Houston Dynamo have met 7 times — 2 wins for St. Louis City, 2 wins for Houston Dynamo and 3 draws.