San Diego FC remain confident they can put a stop to their recent winless run if they stay true to their identity, with a trip to the Houston Dynamo up next in MLS.

San Diego arrive at Shell Energy Stadium on the back of a five-game winless streak in the league, having lost each of their last three outings, including a 4-2 defeat to Real Salt Lake last time out.

It is a run that has seen them slip down to ninth in the Western Conference, having started the season with three consecutive victories.

Varas knows his side are in a rough patch, but he has no doubt they will come out of it better – and soon.

"The most important thing is that we keep insisting on who we are," Varas said.

"This is a long season, and at the end of the day, we have the full confidence that we're going to come out of this, and this run tests who you are as a person.

"My job is to steer us through this moment and make sure we come out of it on the other side."

Houston, meanwhile, are two points and one place behind San Diego, though they have played a game fewer.

The Dynamo ended their own three-match losing streak last time out, bouncing back from a 6-2 thrashing by the Colorado Rapids by beating Orlando City SC 1-0.

They have now won back-to-back games, having also booked their place in the last 16 of the U.S. Open Cup, and head coach Ben Olsen is wary of overworking his players so early in the season.

"We'll keep plugging away and trying to build a deep team," he said.

"If we can do this right, and everybody gets some of these games, whether it's the U.S. Open Cup or MLS, it's a good vibe when you can play a bunch of guys and have some level of success."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Hector Herrera

Herrera scored his first MLS goal in nearly two years, since June 2024, netting the winner against Orlando City last Saturday.

His seven goals (including playoffs) are tied for sixth-most for Houston since he joined the club in 2023, despite going nearly two years without finding the net.

San Diego FC – Anders Dreyer

Dreyer scored from the penalty spot for San Diego on Saturday, his 28th goal contribution in his first 21 career MLS away matches (19 goals, nine assists).

Dreyer's 28 road goal contributions since the start of last season are the most in MLS, one ahead of Lionel Messi (20 goals, seven assists).

MATCH PREDICTION: SAN DIEGO FC WIN

The away side won both meetings between the Houston Dynamo and San Diego last season, with a total of 13 goals scored over the two meetings. It was tied for the highest-scoring fixture in MLS last season, along with Atlanta United vs. Columbus Crew.

San Diego are winless in six straight matches in all competitions (D2 L4), the longest run in the short history of the club.

They have conceded 18 times over those six matches (3.0 per match) after allowing 19 goals over their previous 21 games in all competitions (0.9 per match).

Despite San Diego's recent run, Houston are not expected to triumph. The Dynamo have won back-to-back games in all competitions, but have not won three in a row since March 2024.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 33.3%

Draw – 25.6%

San Diego FC – 41.1%