Dynamo: Home Again

Story & Pictures By Erik Williams

In May, the Houston Dynamo looked to be on track to assume command in the MLS’s Western Conference. However they had a rough go of it in June and July, playing half their games away from Robertson Stadium, and it showed in a slip in the standings. Fortunately, Houston has four home games in August, all against playoff-caliber opponents, and they are aware that those games will be pivotal in their playoff hopes. 

After a long stretch of games away from home, the Dynamo plan to play four of their five MLS league games in August at home, and the team knows that having their home supporters on their side could prove to be the difference in their play, especially on offense, which has seen a lack of goals in thus far in the summer. ““I think it’s a matter of time before we get our timing right on crosses and start scoring some goals,” said midfielder Brad Davis. The Dynamo hope to regain their scoring touch that saw them score only four goals for the month of June, three against Toronto FC. Lead striker Brian Ching echoed Davis’s sentiments saying, “This little stretch can have a pretty big impact on where we finish the rest of the season. We have that in mind; we have a lot of home games we are looking forward to. We hope we can play better than we have the first third of the season. Hopefully we can come out of this stretch near the top if not at the top.” Goalkeeper Pat Onstad adds that the team’s defensive presence, affected by the long-term injury to central defender Eddie Robinson, has to improve as well for the team to prosper in the second half of the season. “All the way up, including defensively, we have to be a lot sharper.” 

Along with regaining their scoring touch, the Dynamo hope to get back to their winning ways, in general, having recorded draws in eight of their 16 MLS league games and seeing an early exit from the U.S. Open Cup again. And thankfully, they’ll be at home for most of the MLS’s seasons second stanza, hosting such teams as Chicago, Chivas USA, D.C. United and Los Angeles, all of whom are vying for playoff spots themselves, and all of whom are staunch opponents. “It’s not a very forgiving second half of the year,” coach Dominic Kinnear said. “You want to pick up maximum points in every game.” 

Though the MLS schedule is predominant in the minds of the players, the teams also has to contend with the Superliga tournament as well. Semifinalists in last year’s Superliga action, the Dynamo have qualified for it again this year, but will face a steeper challenge, being grouped with D.C. United, on the road, and Mexican powerhouses Atlante and Chivas Guadalajara at home. However, the team is confident of their success in the tournament. Those are two difficult games. Playing D.C. in D.C. and then Chivas is hard,” said Ching, “They are traditionally strong clubs and playing them takes a lot out of us. I don’t think we have the same depth as some of the Mexican league teams.” Ching also said that losing in the semifinals last year to eventual champion Pachuca, from Mexico, is added motivation to winning this year’s Superliga, aside from the first prize of $1 million to the winning team. “Any competition we enter we want to win. Outside of the MLS Cup, we haven’t won too many trophies. We feel we have to do it if we want to become one of the franchises in MLS. It’s something that’s on our minds and something we are going to try and do this year. Pachuca is a great team and they played a good tournament, all credit to them. Hopefully we can turn things around this year, get to the final and win it.”