Round two of the Texas rivalry between FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo will be played Saturday at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco. But since the first meeting between the two teams at the beginning of the month, things have certainly changed.
Coming into that game on June 3, Dynamo were in fourth place and in need of a win, while FC Dallas were in first place and looking to extend their lead. The Orange won that first meeting 2-1 and started what is now an MLS season-high five-game winning streak.
With FC Dallas still in first, Dynamo will have a chance to tie their in-state rivals for first in the Western Conference by extending their winning streak.
"It's a team we are trying to catch, and with our run of games here now, we've caught them," said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. "We want to be first in our conference, and they are three points in front of us. We want to go up there and get three points and be neck and neck with them. It's an important game."
The Hoops haven't made Dynamo's chase for first any easier, winning games and maintaining their lead in the conference. Dallas' winning ways make the rematch that much more important.
"They are winning games, too," said defender Eddie Robinson. "It's not like they are giving us any chances to catch them. It's like they are saying that if we want to catch them, we have to win our games in hand. They are doing well. We beat them here, and I know they aren't happy about that. They will be looking to avenge that loss. They will be missing some guys this weekend, especially on defense, and we will be looking to take advantage of that. The guys they have stepping in aren't pushovers."
Houston will welcome back the services of Brian Ching, who played against Dallas on June 3 before leaving the team to join the U.S. national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. With the Gold Cup over, Ching is ready to help Dynamo overtake FC Dallas. While he was gone, however, Ching said he followed the Orange every chance he got and was happy to see the team surge with four starters gone.
"There were times during the Gold Cup that as soon as our game was over, I was in the locker room turning on ESPN to watch the guys play," Ching said. "I would text them after every game telling them 'good job.'
"To have four starters step out and have them go on a winning streak is indicative of this team. It shows that we have a lot of depth, and hopefully, we use that this month because we have eight or nine games this month, and that's going to be physically draining. I think June was a good month for a lot of guys to get experience and prove they can win on this level. It makes us stronger."
Houston know how important it is to go into Sunday's matchup with the right attitude. In the Orange's last home game, Chivas USA came out sluggish and Dynamo took advantage of it for a convincing 4-0 win. Dynamo know that could happen to them.
"They are going to be going out there with a good attitude," Robinson said. "Mental attitude I think is the key for us. We go in with the right attitude, we have a chance. If we don't ... attitude says a lot. If you look at our game against Chivas, maybe they weren't ready to come in here and play and it showed. The same thing can happen to us if we don't go in there with the right attitude."
First place has never been a position Dynamo have held. Even though the Orange won the MLS Cup Championship last season, they never spent a day in first place. That is something Houston wants to change Saturday.
"What's most important to us is the chance to become first in the West and first in the league in points," Ching said. "We're looking at it with that opportunity. We are going to be geared up and ready to go."
Jeremy Rakes is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
