The Houston Dynamo returned to practice Tuesday and were still a little sore about the team’s performance Sunday night against the Sounders.
When asked about Sunday’s game, head coach Dominic Kinnear seemed eager to put the team’s performance in the rear view mirror.
“Moving on, next question,” Kinnear said. “We’re all disappointed with what’s going on, and we’re looking forward to the [next] game.”
Some of the players were not as frustrated with the result as they were with the collective effort.
“After we conceded the goal, it didn’t seem like we had that go to try and get it back, and that really frustrates us,” defender Andrew Hainault said. “You have to learn from it, get past it, and you have to look at the next game.”
With 11 games left to play, it is too early to count Houston out of the playoffs. The question will be whether the Dynamo are more the team that got 16 points in their first 10 games to start league play or the one that got four points in their last nine. Mathematically, to make the playoffs, Houston may even have to perform better than it did in the first third of the season.
“We need to play a little better, and we can do better all-around,” Kinnear said. “At every position we can play better, and if that happens and we have it in us, then the results will turn in our favor.”
That turnaround must begin quickly, as Houston’s playoff chances decrease exponentially with each passing game. Though the Dynamo currently stand only six points out of a playoff position, additional teams have been moving between them and that final playoff spot. Some of those teams even have a game or two in hand on the Dynamo.
“Games are running out for us to pick up points,” Hainault said. “We can’t worry too much or be nervous about it. We have to stick together and put our heads down and work. If we do that, relax, and play our game, we can pick up points anywhere.”
Dwain Capodice is a contributor to MLSsoccer.com. Questions or Comments can be sent via email to dwaincapodice@gmail.com.
