When Houston Dynamo score a goal, they are 2-0. The problem has been that the MLS season is seven games old, and Houston is 2-4-1 after back-to-back heartbreaking 1-0 defeats last week at Toronto FC and at home against New England.
As the Orange travel to Washington, to face D.C. United, Dynamo know this weekend is important for a number of reasons.
"It's an important weekend for us more than them (D.C.)," said defender Craig Waibel. "They've gotten off their slump at the beginning of the season, and we are still working off ours.
"Big thing for us is to put a goal in the net. Until we do that, we don't give ourselves a chance to win. Defensively, We are actually fantastic right now. The goals we have given up - maybe we'll have one mistake, but we make the teams earn their chance. This weekend becomes extremely important for us confidence-wise to score a goal."
Even though the results have not been what Houston is looking for, the club has been happy with its play. Against Toronto and the Revolution, Dynamo controlled the pace most of the game and came out attacking, said head coach Dominic Kinnear. Kinnear added Houston needs to keep its guard up.
"We came out in both games and were all over them the first 10 minutes, and then they scored a goal," Kinnear said. "I'd consider that bad luck. We're getting punished for our mistakes. We need to stay focused and not let our guard down."
There is still plenty of time left in a fairly young MLS season, but the MLS Cup champions are getting frustrated with the results so far.
"From the top down, everybody is frustrated," Waibel said. "I don't think there is anyone more frustrated than someone else in the locker room right now. We like to win. The frustration level is pretty high right now."
But, Waibel and the rest of the team are quick to note that they have been getting chances. Against New England, Houston had four shots on goal and finished with 11 shots total. Dynamo have gotten plenty of opportunities this season, but except for the games against Chivas and Colorado, the shots haven't found the back of the net.
"We're getting chances," Waibel said. "We're just not doing anything with those chances. That's coming from multiple places. A lot of guys are getting chances. We're creating chances, which is a good thing. Our problem is we can't find the back of the net. Usually, it's a confidence thing. When you get one, you'll feel confident you'll get another."
D.C. and Houston split their two games last season with United gaining a 2-0 win in Washington early in the season and Houston gaining redemption with a 1-0 victory at Robertson Stadium late in the year.
With the Orange looking to end a two-game slide and another 200-plus minute scoreless streak, Saturday's game is important. But it's not a must-win.
"Every game is important," Kinnear said. "I don't think this is a must-win. We always look to play to win. It doesn't matter if it's the 28th game or the eighth game. We play to win. D.C. came off a good result in Toronto, and they are playing well. We just need to play well and be clinical all over the field."
Jeremy Rakes is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
