With a single win and just one goal scored three games into the new season, Houston Dynamo fans could be forgiven for wondering what is going on with the defending MLS champs.
After all, 2 1/2 weeks ago their squad was mere minutes away from beating Mexican power CF Pachuca and advancing to the CONCACAF Champions' Cup finals after they found the back of net four times in the two-leg semifinal series.
Now, after Houston lost to a 10-man Red Bulls team at Giants Stadium Saturday night, the question must be asked: Has the disappointment from that heart-wrenching loss south of the border carried over to the start of the domestic season?
"We talked about that a little bit beforehand -- it was an emotional thing for us," said goalkeeper Pat Onstad after Saturday's 1-0 loss, thanks to a Jozy Altidore goal in the 60th minute.
"It was a fantastic series, and I think we felt we should have gone through. The guys played so well - especially down in Pachuca," Onstad said. "I don't think that's the reason we haven't played as well as we could have so far, but it's there."
Midfielder Dwayne De Rosario agreed. "Preseason took a lot out of us, and we're definitely in a little slump right now," he said.
That much was clear against the Red Bulls. Dynamo came out flat and couldn't capitalize on a 55-minute man advantage after Clint Mathis had been shown red after a clumsy challenge on Ryan Cochrane. Houston had dodged a bullet earlier -- when Mathis missed a penalty kick after De Rosario handled a Dane Richards cross inside the 18-yard box.
It didn't help that Dynamo's top striker - U.S. international Brian Ching - didn't come in until the 69th minute so his surgically repaired knee wouldn't take too much of a beating on the artificial turf.
"We missed him," said Onstad. "He's always dangerous, the other teams have to be aware of him and he holds the ball up so well for the other guys."
Coach Dominic Kinnear's take on the game was typically blunt.
"We didn't deserve a tie tonight. We didn't deserve anything," he said. "We needed to move the ball better, to get it to the outside because they were clogging up the middle. And, it was extra tough because we haven't played on this surface since last season."
Whatever the reasons for the visitors' poor display, the Red Bulls deserve some credit for the outcome. Playing shorthanded, the Bulls locked down midfield catalyst De Rosario, preventing him from linking up with forwards Alejandro Moreno and Paul Dalglish. In particular, second-half sub Seth Stammler was glued to the Canadian international.
"His job was to watch me and limit my touches," a clearly frustrated De Rosario said after the game.
"They really did a good job congesting the middle of the field. They were organized and disciplined. With Claudio [Reyna], they play with a lot more patience. He's so good on the ball, makes great runs without the ball and creates space out there. We needed to limit his touches too."
Granted, it's only April, and there is no need to panic yet. But the sooner Dynamo put their Mexican hangover behind them, the better.
Said Onstad: "We need to get going now and realize that the league is our main focus."
Doug McIntyre is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
