After a promising start to the 2013 season that saw the Houston Dynamo win their first five home games in all competitions, the Dynamo's season has hit a road block that few expected. Houston is winless in its last three home games, including back-to-back losses to Sporting Kansas City and the New England Revolution.
And while the writers at MLSsoccer.com are not ready to write off the Dynamo as a contender this year, they have dropped Houston a few pegs in the latest power rankings based on their recent form. Dominic Kinnear's squad dropped four spots in the latest rankings and now sits at No. 10. According to MLSsoccer.com's Matt Doyle:
Jumping the gun on dropping these guys a bit, maybe? It's the Dynamo, after all – they're never really as vulnerable as they seem, and on paper this team competes for the Shield. But the offense is sputtering, and the defense still looks a cut below the best this league has to offer.
Over at ESPN.com, senior writer Jeff Carlisle also dropped the Dynamo four spots to No. 10 in his rankings. Carlisle wrote:
The Dynamo delivered a surprising performance against New England, and not in a good way in a 2-0 loss. Houston will need to regroup without both starting center backs, as well; Jermaine Taylor was injured and Bobby Boswell was red-carded.
SI.com's Avi Creditor, who had the Dynamo higher than most in the week 11 power rankings, joined the parade of writers moving Houston down this week, but only to the No. 6 spot in his rankings. According to Creditor:
What happened to Houston's BBVA Compass Stadium mojo? The Dynamo dropped a second straight home game, this one a lackluster 2-0 defeat to New England, after a run of 36 home games unbeaten. More concerning is how Dom Kinnear will address his immediate woe at center back, after Bobby Boswell's red card and Jermaine Tayor's injury suddenly has the club shorthanded in the back ahead of a revenge bout with rival SKC, which ended Houston's home streak and was not shy in celebrating the fact.
While Creditor has the Dynamo higher than his counterparts, all agree that the center back situation is one to keep an eye on this week. Bobby Boswell will be suspended after picking up a red card in last week's match against New England. Jermaine Taylor was forced out of Saturday's game early with a shoulder injury.
The Dynamo will hit the road this weekend for their penultimate match before the league breaks for international matches. Houston will take on Sporting KC Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. The match can be seen nationally on NBC Sports Network.
