With the Dynamo set to begin the 2013 season in just 2 days – against D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday – we are counting down to kickoff with a Dynamo-centric countdown to Opening Day. See the bottom of this post for the complete countdown list.
Each day, we’ll post a description of what makes the number significant. If you have any thoughts on the subjects, post them in the comment section below.
Today, we continue with #2:
With only 90 days between the 2012 MLS Cup final and Saturday's 2013 season opener between the Dynamo and D.C. United, it is easy to remember the buzz inside BBVA Compass Stadium at the end of the 2012 season. The Dynamo completed the fourth unbeaten home schedule in league history with a win over Philadelphia in the home finale and won both home playoff games, extending a home unbeaten streak that stretches back 20 months to June 11, 2011, a 2-0 loss to Columbus at Robertson Stadium.
The Dynamo enter 2013 with a pair of historic home unbeaten streaks that will be on the line in the first two games of the season. The Dynamo hold a 25-game regular season home undefeated streak, the second-longest in league history behind Real Salt Lake's 29-game streak from 2009-11. The Dynamo also carry a 30-game home unbeaten streak in all competitions (including Champions League and playoffs) into 2013, which is also the second-longest in league history, trailing Real Salt Lake, which went 34 games without a home loss in all competitions during the same run.
To have a chance to break both league records, the Dynamo will have to take care of business in their first two home games of the season: Saturday vs. D.C. United and Tuesday vs. Santos Laguna in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal series. If the Dynamo win or draw in both of those games, both streaks will continue as the Dynamo host Vancouver on March 23 and San Jose on March 30.
If the Dynamo make it through the four home games without defeat, they could break the 34-game, all-competitions streak on April 14, when they host the Chicago Fire in their fifth overall home game of the campaign. The Dynamo would have to defeat Colorado on April 28 in their fifth MLS home game of the season to break the 29-game regular season record. The home atmosphere should be electric as the Dynamo try and extend both streaks beginning Saturday vs. D.C. United.
The chart below details the longest regular season home unbeaten streaks in Major League Soccer history:
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>Home unbeaten streak</strong> |
<strong>Streak start date</strong> |
<strong>Streak end date</strong> |
<p align="center">Real Salt Lake</p> |
<p align="center">29</p> |
<p align="center">6/6/2009</p> |
<p align="center">5/14/2011</p> |
<p align="center"><strong>Houston</strong><strong> Dynamo</strong></p> |
<strong>25</strong> |
<strong>7/9/2011</strong> |
<strong>???</strong> |
<p align="center">Columbus Crew</p> |
<p align="center">22</p> |
<p align="center">6/28/2008</p> |
<p align="center">9/26/2009</p> |
<p align="center">LA Galaxy</p> |
<p align="center">18</p> |
<p align="center">10/24/2010</p> |
<p align="center">10/16/2011</p> |
<p align="center">San Jose Earthquakes</p> |
<p align="center">18</p> |
<p align="center">9/25/2004</p> |
<p align="center">10/8/2005</p> |
<p align="center"><strong>Houston</strong><strong> Dynamo</strong></p> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<strong>6/26/2008</strong> |
<strong>6/20/2009</strong> |
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Return to the blog on Friday for #1 on our Countdown to Opening Day.
Complete Countdown to Opening Day List
#3 - Three road celebrations on way to 2012 MLS Cup final
#4 - Dominic Kinnear is fourth on MLS all-time wins list
#5 - Dynamo have played in five conference championships in seven years
#6 - Only six coaches in American pro sports have longer tenure than Dominic Kinnear
#7 - Seven years of Orange memories
#8 - Dynamo among eight remaining teams in CONCACAF Champions League
#9 - Dynamo treat fans to nine-point week
#10 - Boniek Garcia improved Dynamo's goal difference by 10 after arrival
#11 - Dynamo set another club record with 11 home wins in 2012
#12 - Tally Hall sets club record with 12 shutouts in 2012
#13 - 13 different goal scorers in 2012
#14 - Dynamo win 14 regular season games in 2012
#15 - Brad Davis' career goals and assists vs. D.C. United
#16 - Will Bruin sets franchise record with 16 goals in all competitions
#17 - Dynamo scored 17 goals in final 15 minutes of games in 2012
#18 - Dynamo have lost just 18 MLS home games in seven years
#19 - Dynamo finish 2012 with franchise best +19 home goal differential
#20 - Brad Davis' combined goals and assists in 2011 and 2012
