The Houston Dynamo are looking to do anything they can to make up for last year's trip to Blackbaud Stadium.
In the third round of the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the Dynamo took their defending MLS Cup title to face the Charleston Battery of the USL First Division, but were stunned by a penalty kick goal in extra time by Stephen Armstrong.
Then-goalkeeper Zach Wells made a first save, but Armstrong jumped on the rebound and fired a shot into the back of the net in the 106th minute for the only goal the Battery would need.
That win against the Dynamo marked the fourth time Charleston posted a win against MLS competition. Despite the win over Houston, the Battery could not keep the magic going, losing to FC Dallas in the next round.
For the Dynamo, Tuesday's match does serve as a reminder that the Davids out there still want a chance to compete against the big boys. And as Houston found out last year, the little guy can still win when it gets good goalkeeping and even better defense.
While the Dynamo still want to advance to play the winner of Miami FC and FC Dallas, they still have to keep their eye on an important road match Thursday against Real Salt Lake.
Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear would not reveal who he would be playing or sitting against Charleston Tuesday, but he did say the No. 1 goal for his club is to get a win and advance in Open Cup play.
"We can't give it away, but I think you will see a different team than what you saw against Dallas (June 26)," Kinnear said. "Your eye is to try to win the game and do what you can to advance in the tournament. But I can promise you that we have an important game on Thursday, too. Asking guys to play two 90-minute games in two days with travel is going to be tough. That would be difficult for any team and we need to make sure we have an eye on both games and the way we address both games."
Kinnear wouldn't name names, but rookie Geoff Cameron said he would be playing against Charleston.
In 12 matches this season, four starts, Cameron has a goal and an assist on nine shots. He scored in the Dynamo's first home game against FC Dallas, tying things up in extra time.
There is no doubt many starters will rest, but Cameron said the goal is still the same.
"We are going down there for one reason; we are going down there for a win," Cameron said. "Hopefully we can do that and grab some momentum going into Thursday's game. We are going down there to win. Our goal is to go there, win and hopefully advance to the next round of the Open Cup."
Players like Cameron, Pat Ianni and Chris Wondolowski are likely candidates to get significant time in Houston's first Open Cup match.
And it is in these games, Cameron said, that players like him get a chance to impress coaches and teammates with good play in non-league competitions that matter.
"There are always opportunities in non-leagues for us younger players to show what we have," said Cameron. "But you still have to play the game like you know how and like how the team is coached. You have to work as hard as you can to make sure you play well and that you are doing what you can to get the team a win."
If the Dynamo win Tuesday, they will play on the road next Tuesday, July 8 against FC Dallas or Miami FC. Houston has lost two consecutive Open Cup matches after winning the first two against Carolina and the Hoops in 2006.
Andrew J. Ferraro is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
