Some might look at the Houston Dynamo's 3-0 loss to the New England Revolution last weekend and say it was nothing more than a little rust and having to play a really good team in cold weather.
Of course, there has to be a reason why the team would look that flat en route to being dominated in 35-degree weather by a team they've beaten twice to win back-to-back MLS championships.
But facts will show that the Dynamo have been playing meaningful matches for a while now. There is no need to sugarcoat anything -- the 3-0 loss to the Revs was the product of a poorly played game.
The team knows it and they hope to do everything possible to reverse the trend Wednesday night when the team plays host to the most storied team in Costa Rica, Deportivo Saprissa, in the first leg of the semifinal round of the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.
Can the team win?
Certainly they have a good chance in the first round at Robertson Stadium. Defender Eddie Robinson said the experience of playing in these tournament games is welcomed for a team looking to put more hardware in the trophy case.
"I think we are a more experienced team (this year)," Robinson said. "Not only are we deep, again, but we are more experienced and I really think that is going to come in handy in those close games this year."
If they win the first leg, they'll have to do it without Brad Davis (groin), Brian Mullan (knee) and Stuart Holden (ankle), who are injured. Robinson is a bit tender with a sore knee and back, but should be able to play Wednesday.
"We have some people out, but so do they," said head coach Dominic Kinnear.
After last weekend against New England in the team's MLS opener, the Dynamo will take a close game. They'll need a solid victory and a good lead for the second leg when the series turns to Central America on April 9.
Saprissa has won 26 Primera Division titles and three CONCACAF Champions' Cup tiles, having won the tournament in 1993, 1995 and 2005.
Not to mention a home field advantage that rivals some of the best in all of sport.
"From what we understand that is one of the more volatile environments to play in," Robinson said. "I believe their national team had to play in front of an empty stadium a couple of times due to the fans. And I think that is going to be in the back of some of the guys' minds.
"Will we let that affect us? That remains to be seen. I hope not."
If the Dynamo advance in the Champions' Cup, they will play the winner of D.C. United, who had the best regular season record in MLS last year and Mexico's Pachuca -- who eliminated the Dynamo at this stage of the tournament a year ago.
Kinnear will be relying on some of his young players more and more this season due to the extra games on the schedule.
By the team Houston plays its first league match Sunday against FC Dallas, they will have already played seven matches, not including four preseason friendlies against their MLS brethren.
Newcomers Franco Caraccio and rookie Geoff Cameron (especially Caraccio) will have to be counted on down the stretch as the number of games and minutes begin to take their toll.
"We really want (Franco) to have a big impact this year," Kinnear said. "I think any time a foreigner comes here, the adjustment period will take some time based on how the league is and how the team is practicing. He has shown some real flashes of ability so far and we think he is going to be a good player for us this year.
"Also, we have a kid named Geoff Cameron who has had a really good preseason for us. As a third round draft pick, he's come in and I don't want to say surprised us, but he has impressed us."
Andrew J. Ferraro is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
