In the inaugural season at BBVA Compass Stadium, not a lot has gone wrong for the Houston Dynamo. The club completed the fourth unbeaten home schedule in Major League Soccer history and is in the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons. Now, the Dynamo get to add on to the historic season with a playoff game in their new downtown home.
“Everything that is coming this weekend is what we have been playing for,” said goalkeeper Tally Hall. “There is something special about playing regular season games in a brand new stadium in its inaugural season. Now, we are playing a playoff game in our new home that has been very good to us.”
Sending their fans home happy is nothing new for the Dynamo. The team is currently unbeaten in its last 28 home matches in all competitions dating back to June 2011. When it comes to the playoffs, the team has maintained its strong form at home with a 6-1 record all-time and a +8 goal differential. Dynamo players and coaches appreciate the support the fans have shown this season, and look forward to another full house on Sunday.
“We have had great crowds this year,” head coach Dominic Kinnear said. “We have also had a great playoff history. Both the fans and us wanted this home playoff game and we want to see 90 minutes of intense love for the home team and to put [Kansas City] under a little intimidation.
“The catch phrase ‘Dream, Scream, Believe’ that our front office has brought up is wonderful,” Kinnear added. “You dream about winning MLS Cup, you have to believe it and then when you get to the stadium you start screaming.”
Before the Dynamo continue on their trek toward MLS Cup, they will have to get through a Sporting Kansas City side that is looking for payback after last year’s Eastern Conference championship. Sunday's meeting will be seventh competitive meeting between the two clubs in the past two years.
“What [Sporting KC head coach] Peter Vermes has done with the team is very impressive,” Kinnear said. “We have had tough games and there is not a lot between the two teams. Both teams are full of proud professional soccer players.”
Although the visitors enter this weekend’s match-up the favorite to win the series, the Dynamo have full confidence in their team and the fans that they can pull out the result needed.
“The playoffs are all about what you can do as a group together,” midfielder Brad Davis said. “It takes every single person to give everything and believe in what you are doing and the guys really believe in that.
“The fans talk a lot about how they want us to deliver, but we need them to deliver and come on Sunday and put their butts in the seats. We want 22,000 screaming, loud fans in the stadium. If you have your tickets come because we need all the support we can get.”
