Preview: Dynamo vs. Colorado

DL_April28_Rapids_Dynamo_CSN_Unimas


THE BASICS
Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids
Sunday, April 28, 4 p.m. CT
BBVA Compass Stadium


BROADCAST INFORMATION
CSN Houston 4 p.m.
UniMas 4 p.m.
Yahoo! 1560 AM - 4 p.m. (3:30 pregame)
La Ranchera 850 - 4 p.m. (3:30 pregame)


PREVIEW
The Houston Dynamo will once again look to make MLS history when they put their long home undefeated record on the line, facing the Colorado Rapids on Sunday afternoon at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo have a perfect record at home this year, but are coming off their first road point, gained in a 1-1 draw at Toronto FC last weekend. The Rapids saw their brief two-game winning streak put to an end last time out, in a home loss to Seattle Sounders FC.


REFEREES 
Juan Guzman. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Paul Scott; 4th: Armando Villarreal MLS Career: 23 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 7; pens: 4


INJURY REPORT, PRESENTED BY THE METHODIST HOSPITAL SYSTEM

HOUSTON DYNAMO -- OUT: Calen Carr – Left knee; Omar Cummings – Right knee; Tyler Deric – Left ankle; QUESTIONABLE: Brad Davis – Right adductor ; Adam Moffat – Left hamstring ; Cam Weaver – lower back


COLORADO RAPIDS -- OUT: DF Diego Calderón (right knee surgery); MF Jaime Castril- lón (right knee surgery); MF Kevin Harbottle (left knee sprain); GK Matt Pickens (left arm fracture); DF Marvell Wynne (right quad strain); QUESTIONABLE: FW Deshorn Brown (right quad strain); FW Edson Buddle (right knee pain); MF Pablo Mastroeni (left quad strain); MF Martín Rivero (broken right foot)


HEAD-TO-HEAD

  • ALL-TIME (17 meetings): Dynamo 7 wins, 23 goals ... Rapids 6 wins, 21 goals ... Ties 4 AT HOUSTON (7 meetings): Dynamo 4 wins, 16 goals ... Rapids 1 win, 11 goals ... Ties 2
  • LAST YEAR (MLS): 10/27: COL 2, HOU 0 (Hill 9; Akpan 76)
  • This is the only meeting of the season between the two clubs.
  • The Rapids have a six-game undefeated streak alive against the Dynamo, Houston’s last victory in the series coming in a 1-0 win, April 19, 2009.
  • The Rapids won the lone meeting between the teams last year, a 2-0 in the regular season finale at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
  • Colorado’s only win ever in Houston came in their last visit, a 2-1 win May 4, 2011 at Robertson Stadium. This is the first meeting at BBVA Compass Stadium.
  • Coaches record: Dominic Kinnear vs. COL: P25 W11 L7 D7 ... Oscar Pareja vs. HOU: P1 W1 L0 D0


HOUSTON DYNAMO

The Houston Dynamo gained their first road point of 2013 in dramatic fashion, getting a stoppage-time equalizer for a 1- 1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon at BMO Field. The Dynamo are in a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference with 13 points from 7 matches.


LAST MATCH

  • The home side took the lead in the 58th minute. A Dynamo clearance from their own box went only as far as Jeremy Hall some 25 yards from goal, and drove a low shot into the corner past sliding Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall.
  • Four minutes later, the Dynamo went down a man when defender Jermaine Taylor was shown a red card for a foul on Robert Earnshaw while both were racing for a loose ball over the top.
  • But the visitors pushed for the equalizer and it came in stoppage time. Ricardo Clark outjumped everyone to redirect a corner kick goalward, and second-year man Warren Creavalle redirected it past helpless goalkeeper Joe Bendik.
  • Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made no changes to the team that defeated the Chicago Fire 2-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium.
  • HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-4-2): Tally Hall - Kofi Sarkodie, Jermaine Taylor (sent off 62), Bobby Boswell, Corey Ashe - Andrew Driver, Adam Moffat (Warren Creavalle 41), Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis (Luiz Camargo 46) - Giles Barnes (Eric Brunner 64), Will Bruin.


TEAM NEWS

  • Having set the MLS record for the longest home undefeated streak in all competitions, the Dynamo can set the league mark for consecutive regular season home games without defeat. Real Salt Lake went 29 home games without a loss from 2009-11.
  • The Dynamo were able to take their first point on the road in the Toronto FC match, after losing both of their previous road starts. The Dynamo are 4-0-0 at home this season.
  • “There’s no better time to get a game-tying goal then right there at the end,” Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said. “It wasn’t the best game. It was difficult circumstances all around with the climate and some of the things that happened during the game, but to walk out of there with a point, it was good for us.”
  • Warren Creavalle scored his second goal of the season to give the Dynamo the draw at Toronto FC. He’s now tied for the club lead in goals, along with Will Bruin, Giles Barnes and Brad Davis.
  • “It is a big away draw where instead of them getting three points we were able to get a point out of it and keep pushing up the standings,” said Creavalle.
  • There are two injury worries for the Rapids match. Adam Moffat was removed for a substitute in the 41st minute with a hamstring injury and Brad Davis did not return after the halftime break, with a groin injury.
  • “It’s one of those [situations] where you had to really be careful and make sure nothing gets worse,” Kinnear said. “It wasn’t an ideal situation. Hopefully it speeds up their recoveries and they’ll be available for the next game.”
  • In addition, Boniek García was an unused substitute in the Toronto match after missing the Portland and Chicago contests with an Achilles strain.
  • "He was an option ... we didn’t think 45 minutes in those conditions would be a good thing for him,” Kinnear said. “He wasn’t there just to make up numbers, he could play. As this week goes on I’d imagine he’d be in the running for minutes this weekend.”