On May 12, the Houston Dynamo will open the brand new BBVA Compass Stadium with a home match against D.C. United. It’s an event that the club is getting understandably excited about.
But before they get to open their proverbial presents, there’s the small matter of a road trip to take on the New York Red Bulls on May 9.
“That’s a game we’ve all circled on our calendar,” Brad Davis told the media of their showdown with United. “That’s a game that’s always in the back of you mind. … But we have to [stay focused]. We have a good group and a lot of level headed guys. We’ve waited six years for a stadium, so I think we can wait another 90 minutes in New York.”
The midweek clash is the last of seven straight road matches the club has played while waiting for BBVA Compass Stadium to open. But with the chance to make up ground on the Red Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings, the game is hardly a formality for the Dynamo, even with their home opener looming.
“Obviously we’re very excited for it and we want the home opener to happen right away, but we still have one more game on the road trip,” leading goalscorer Will Bruin said. “Sometimes you have a tendency to look past the game because it’s the home opener but then we get a reality check and realize that we have to get three points there. It would be a lot of momentum if we could go to New York and get a win for the home opener.”
Houston entered their third bye week of the season coming off a wild 3-2 loss to United at RFK Stadium. Sure, the real fun begins on May 12, but there’s plenty to play for in the meantime.
“We’re getting antsy,” Davis said about the off week. “Whenever you lose a game you want to get to the next one as soon as possible. … I think we can concentrate on the task at hand and guys are going to act professional. Yeah we’re excited about [the home opener] but when we step out on that field [in New York] it’s going to be all about business there.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
