The Houston Dynamo were out of action last weekend during the FIFA international break, but are back at home this Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls (7:30 p.m. CT; TICKETS). The early season break has provided the team an opportunity to catch their breath from their fast-pace style of play and hit the reset button.
“We have worked well during the week,” Dynamo midfielder Alex said. “After the loss we had in Portland, we have been fixing the mistakes we made out there.”
The Dynamo began the season with back-to-back wins at BBVA Compass Stadium, but lost their first match of the year in a 4-2 shootout at the Portland Timbers two weekends ago.
“The coaching staff has been identifying some things that we could do better as we move this along after the Portland game,” said forward Andrew Wenger. “We've just been trying to be a little bit more aggressive in the right areas and possess the ball at certain times.”
Wenger, who’s come off the bench in all three matches this season, has also been preparing to start on Saturday if called upon. Teammate Romell Quioto, who was called up to the Honduras national team during the international break, left Friday’s match against the United States in the second half with a dislocated shoulder and his status has not officially been determined for this weekend.
Hondurans Alberth Elis and Boniek García, Panamanian Adolfo Machado and U.S. national team defender DaMarcus Beasley were also away from the club on national team duty and rejoin the team on Thursday. They will have two days to catch up on any tactical changes going into Saturday's match.
“There has been probably two parts to it,” said Wenger. “We have been trying to implement some progress on what we are trying to do tactically, awareness-wise and playing-wise. Also, there is a little bit of base for the rest of the season.”
The Dynamo have 12 games before their next break in mid-June, and though the first month has been positive, the adjustments going into the next part of the season will be crucial to determining whether the team has staying power in the Western Conference.
