MLS Regular Season
Dynamo 4, Chicago 3 - postgame notes
The
Houston Dynamo broke a 10-game MLS winless streak with an emotional 4-3 win
over the Chicago Fire Saturday night behind a Herculean effort from captain
Brian Ching, who scored a hat trick that included a spectacular bicycle kick
and the dramatic game-winner in the 85th minute.
The
win lifts the Dynamo into a tie for 11th place in MLS with 23 points, just five
points behind the Colorado Rapids, who currently occupy the eighth and final
playoff spot. Houston plays at Colorado next Saturday.
Ching lifts Dynamo to dramatic 4-3 win
The Houston Dynamo needed every bit of a Brian Ching hat trick to edge past the Chicago Fire, 4-3, on Saturday night at Robertson Stadium. Ching's thee goals iced a classic tilt that saw the Fire battle back from a two-goal deficit to tie the game at 3-3.
However, Ching — who earlier had tallied a spectacular overhead bicycle kick to give the Dynamo a two-goal cushion — headed home the winner with five minutes remaining, earning his embattled side their first victory against an MLS opponent since May 22.
Talk is cheap for struggling Dynamo
For the past three months, the Houston Dynamo have been busy digging a hole for themselves. Saturday night’s showdown against the Chicago Fire marks an opportunity for the Dynamo to begin to take a first step out of that hole by securing three points in a pivotal match against a playoff contender at home.
Match Preview: Dynamo vs. Chicago Fire
The Basics
Houston
Dynamo (5-10-5, 20 points, seventh in Western Conference) vs. Chicago Fire
(6-5-6, 24 points, fourth in Eastern Conference)
Saturday, August 21, 7:30 p.m. CT
Robertson Stadium, Houston, TX
All-time record: Houston leads the series 5-3-1.
TV Info
Size can be deceiving with Dynamo's Obodai
Even though he stands at only 5-foot-8, Anthony Obodai proved a fierce competitor in midfield for Houston
While the rest of the league was busy adding Designated Players, the cap-restricted Houston Dynamo made one lower-profile acquisition in the most recent
transfer window, acquiring midfielder Anthony Obodai.
PHOTOS: Little Caesars Pizza Party
Houston Dynamo players Danny Cruz and Joseph Ngwenya joined children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Houston for a pizza party at a Little Caesars location in north Houston on Wednesday. Mascots Dynamo Diesel and Little Caesar were also on hand.
To view a photo gallery from the event, please click here.
Looking back at 200 Dynamo games
The Dynamo have played 200 competitive games in their
history. As part of our ‘bicentennial’ celebrations, I thought I’d look back at
some of my favorites from the first 200 games in club history.
Then in this weekend’s edition of the Dynamo Gameday
Magazine, I’ll present a look at what we can expect in the next 200 games. I
hope you’ll check it out and share your thoughts in the comments section of
HoustonDynamo.com articles, on Twitter, on MyDynamo.net, on message boards, or
anywhere else the Dynamo are discussed.
No GK controversy in Houston just yet
For the first time since arriving in Houston, the Dynamo may have a goalkeeper controversy on their hands. Pat Onstad returns from injury this week, but his backup, Tally Hall, has performed well in his stead. However, when asked whether he had a tough selection decision to make, head coach Dominic Kinnear was frank.
“No, not really,” Kinnear said. “Pat’s been great for a lot of years, so for an injury to knock him out of the lineup would be kind of unjust. … But Tally has done well for us.”
Fear not Dynamo fans ... there is hope
Though most of the team is healthy, Cameron expects to be back on the pitch in August.
You know all the numbers that have defined the Dynamo's season.
2 - shots on goal over the past three games
270 - minutes since the last Dynamo goal
8 - number of times the Dynamo have been shut out this season
88 - number of days since the last win over an MLS opponent
35 - number of goals allowed (most since Houston allowed 40 in 2006)
But through all the ups and downs of this season, there is reason to be optimistic that the Dynamo can regain form and make a late-season push for a playoff spot.
Cameron ready to continue on back line
Geoff Cameron returned to the Dynamo lineup ahead of schedule after undergoing knee surgery.
Whether out of necessity or a desire to mix things up, Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear rolled the dice against the New England Revolution, moving Geoff Cameron back into central defense. Though the team still ended up on the losing end, Houston’s overall performance improved somewhat as Cameron played well out of the back.
“I thought he did OK,” Kinnear said. “He looked comfortable back there and stepped into the play and read some balls like he did last year, so, all in all, he had a good night.”
