After playing seven MLS fixtures across the month of May, Houston Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen conceded that his players looked "gassed" in their last league game.

Olsen watched on as the Dynamo were beaten 3-1 at home by Sporting Kansas City last time out, bringing a four-game unbeaten league run to an end.

Houston find themselves 10th in the Western Conference and take on Eastern Conference strugglers CF Montreal at the Shell Energy Stadium this weekend.

And while Olsen was pleased with his team's efforts last month, he took aim at the questionable scheduling of the Dynamo's fixtures during May.

"There was a lot going on in that game," Olsen said. "On one side, we had 22 shots, nine on target with some of those really good opportunities. Bunch of corners and crosses.

"We should certainly be scoring more with the chances we had. It's been a pretty good month overall, and we've played more games than basically everyone else in the league.

"We're tired. They didn't have a Wednesday game. That is the third time this month we've played a team that has not had a Wednesday game, so I don't understand that.

"We look tired. And even the guys we rested. For 25 minutes, we looked sharp, and then we started to get gassed, and it was a combination of gassed and complacency."

For Montreal, their struggles this season continued against the New England Revolution last time out, losing 3-0 to bring up their 11th defeat from 17 games this campaign. 

Their cause was not helped when striker Giacomo Vrioni was handed a red card in the 34th minute, with Ilay Feingold's brace and Peyton Miller's strike sealing the win.

Indeed, Montreal have conceded 15 goals over their last four regular-season matches, equalling the second most in a four-game span in club history.

And though five points adrift at the bottom of the table, interim head coach Marco Donadel was pleased with the efforts of his team against the Revolution.

"I just want to say I'm proud of the guys and the way they fought throughout the game," Donadel said.

"I think we dominated in the first half and with 11 against 11. Even at 10 against 11."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Griffin Dorsey

Dorsey attempted six shots in Houston's defeat on May 31 while Ezequiel Ponce took five.

It was the first time since October 2021 that two Dynamo players attempted five or more shots in a single match (Darwin Quintero seven, Fafa Picault six against the LA Galaxy).

CF Montreal – Prince Owusu

With joint-top scorer Vrioni suspended following his red card against New England, Owusu looks to be the man to lead the line for Montreal.

He has six goal contributions (four goals, two assists) in 17 appearances this season, including three in his last six matches (two goals, one assist).

MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN

Houston have lost five of their first nine home matches this season, including a 3-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas on May 31. The Dynamo had never lost more than three of their first nine home games of a season before this year.

Montreal, meanwhile, have eight points through 17 matches this season, the third fewest at this stage of a season in MLS history (Chivas USA – six in 2005, LA Galaxy – seven in 2025). Montreal's only win this season did come on the road, a 1-0 win at New York City FC on May 10.

Montreal also won their last visit to Houston, 3-2, in August 2022, their first ever away victory over the Dynamo after losing eight of their previous nine visits to Houston (D1).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 61.2%

Draw – 20.5%

CF Montreal – 18.4%