The Dynamo play their second of three preseason games in the Carolina Challenge Cup tonight at 3 p.m. CT when they face New York City FC (Watch the live stream at www.HoustonDynamo.com/live).
After two days of training in unusually cold Charleston weather, the team is looking to rebound after a 1-0 defeat to the Charleston Battery in Saturday’s opening game. Tonight's game was moved an hour earlier due to a severe weather warning here in Charleston.
“The training was fantastic yesterday,” Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle said. “The intensity, the application, everything we are looking for. We know we have quality in the team and a terrific group of players. Tonight we play a very good side in New York City, a team that has invested heavily financially with some big names as we know. “
The Dynamo are just nine days from the 2015 season opener – March 7 against Columbus Crew SC at BBVA Compass Stadium – and tonight is the club’s penultimate preseason game.
“The important thing for us tonight is our development and getting ready for the start of the season against Columbus Crew, and for our players to go and show their quality and be very respectful of the opposition,” Coyle added. “The important thing tonight is to day by day get stronger, physically stronger, mentally stronger, and get tighter.
The club traveled from Houston to Charleston on Friday and arrived late, with a short turnaround and a 5 p.m. kickoff the next evening in the opening game of a doubleheader. Coyle conceded that the travel and late arrival may have contributed to the performance in the 1-0 setback against the Battery.
“The lads arrived at midnight (on Friday), so I think we need to cut them a bit of slack in that respect. We want to move the ball quicker, because that’s what I think we’re about, and when you do that, it leads to creating goal scoring chances. We had two or three on Saturday night, probably not as many as you’d like in the game.
Tonight the Dynamo will get their first chance against New York City FC, who along with Orlando City SC enter MLS as expansion clubs in 2015. NYCFC drew Orlando, 1-1, on Friday with NYCFC rookie Kyrie Shelton equalizing after Kaka’s opener for the Lions.
“It will be tough tonight with good opposition, and that’s what’s great, if we can move the ball well against the New York City’s and Orlando’s, that will go well moving into the season. “
"It is preseason and we want to win every game, but the important thing is getting a performance that we think is up to the ability we have in the squad.”
