Four games into the season, Houston Dynamo have only four points and have scored just one goal. The results haven't been what Houston is looking for, but the defense has given the Orange an opportunity to win more than just one match.
Through the first four games, Houston has given up just two goals, both in the last two matches and both the decisive goals in 1-0 losses at New York and against Chicago.
"Defense has done what it's always done," said defender Kelly Gray. "This team has prided itself on its defense and its hard work. All 11 guys on the field, once we lose the ball, are getting back and working their butts off to get that ball back. With Chicago, we only gave up one, maybe two good chances. Maybe we should be a little bit better than that, but at the same time, Chicago is a good team and are going to get chances. All teams are going to get chances.
"To have only two goals scored against us all year, I think that's what this team is all about. As soon as we start putting them in the net, it will be a completely different game."
In the first half against Chicago, Houston limited the Fire to two shots and neither of them was on goal. Of the 10 shots Chicago took in the second half, most of them came after its goal in the 60th minute, Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said.
That's one of the areas where the Houston team defending has done so well this year.
"Our team defense has been good," Kinnear said. "We pride ourselves on everyone getting behind the ball quickly. The chances (Chicago) got, a lot of them came after they scored, so we were pushing players forward and they were breaking at times. Pat (Onstad)'s good, and our guys are pretty proud about not getting scored on. We have good individual players, and I think our team defending is good as well."
Onstad has done a great job in goal for Houston, allowing only those two goals while playing every minute of the season. He has two shutouts and 16 saves through the first four matches.
But Dynamo haven't been able to capitalize on the defense, scoring only one goal in the first month, fewest in the league only to expansion Toronto FC, who have yet to score in four matches in their inaugural campaign.
The Orange know, however, that both defensively and offensively, it's a team effort and there are still things that need to be improved.
"It's a collective effort defensively," said defender Wade Barrett. "There's nothing we can feel too good about now because things aren't going our way. I think the collective effort defensively has been fantastic. It hasn't been just one guy, it's been from the entire group.
"Going the other way, we all have to take responsibility for creating opportunities. It's not just the two forwards who can score a goal, it's all of us on the field. We're happy with what we've done defensively, but we have a lot to work on."
Jeremy Rakes is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
