The Houston Dynamo are in the midst of a demanding schedule. The team will contest their third match out of seven in a span of 25 days when they take on the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night (8:00 p.m. CT, KUBE 57).
In the shorter window, it will be the Dynamo’s first of five matches over the next two weeks. Thankfully, the team is coming off two results at home – a 2-2 draw with LAFC and a 3-0 win over Minnesota United FC – to ignite what could be a rewarding month when all is said and done.
“It is important to win at home, now we have an away game,” said head coach Wilmer Cabrera. “It's going to be a difficult match. Colorado is trying to come back, it is a team that is in a complicated situation so every game they have is going to be a final and we understand it that way, so we are going to prepare ourselves in the best way to face it.”
The Rapids, second-to-last in the Western Conference and 11 points out of a playoff spot, are on a two game losing streak after briefly breaking up an eight-game losing streak in June. That won't make them an easy out on their home field, but the Dynamo are coming into the matchup with their own run of good form. Philippe Senderos, who scored three goals in the last two games, has been a key part of the Dynamo’s hot start to July – a run they’ll look to keep going on Saturday.
“It’s important to continue in this streak,” said Senderos. “This season, we’ve played a little bit better away from home than we have in the past. We’ve tried to control the game a little more and we’ve seen in the second game against Minnesota, we were able to control the times of the game and I think if we can do that in Colorado we will get some success.”
Romell Quioto is another player that has seen an upward tick in recent matches, moving his assist tally to 10 on the season – tied for the MLS lead with Kaku of the New York Red Bulls. Quioto has recorded an assist in three consecutive games, Alberth Elis and Mauro Manotas each have nine goals to their name, and Joe Willis just picked up his second shutout of the season.
Everything is looking up for the Dynamo and their positive spirit may be the key to turning their luck at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – a venue where the Dynamo are winless since 2008. A challenge of the Mile High City is always its infamous altitude, something the Dynamo are preparing to deal with as they go for the three points.
“The last 10-15 minutes you start feeling it,” said Cabrera. “If you are well-prepared and if you are focused and concentrated, you are going to be able to manage, the way other teams have managed.”
