With the first of five games in 10 days behind Houston Dynamo, the Orange turns their attention to the second game -- this Sunday against D.C. United at Robertson Stadium.
New York didn't turn out to be too tough of a game for the defending MLS Cup champions as Houston scored two first half goals and cruised to a 4-0 victory. The win extended Dynamo's unbeaten streak to seven games, and Houston will look to extend the five-week long streak to eight against East-leading D.C.
That will not be an easy task for the Orange, but Dynamo will have at least one advantage playing at home where they are 5-2-1 this season.
"It's always nice (to play at home)," said Dynamo forward Joseph Ngwenya. "We have great fans. That's the key. We have great fans always behind us. It's going to be a tough one against D.C. They are first in the East, and they will be looking to keep winning, and we will be looking to keep winning too."
Against the Red Bulls, Houston got a lift from second-year midfielder Stuart Holden. Playing in place of the injured Brad Davis, Holden scored a goal and dished out two assists. Holden stepped into Davis' spot and did all that Dynamo could ask of him, including being the key guy on set pieces - something Davis normally did.
"Just to come in and contribute is what I want to do," Holden said. "That's what I'm here for, especially now with Brad being down and now being able to get more minutes. I want to contribute and do what I can do to help the team win. I had a couple assists and a goal (Thursday). It feels really good, and I just want to keep it going into Sunday against D.C."
Houston will get a lift against United as defender Eddie Robinson will return from his one game suspension and midfielder Ricardo Clark will return to the team after playing with the U.S. national team in Copa America.
The return of those two players will help, but Dynamo know in order to keep their seven-game unbeaten streak going, they will have to maintain their effort.
"It just takes hard work every time we step on to the field, and I think that's something we've done well over the past few years," said Dynamo defender Wade Barrett. "We didn't win any points (Thursday) for Sunday. We are going to start the game 0-0 and work hard for 90 minutes and try to get three points."
D.C. presents a tough test for the defending MLS Cup winners. After losing their first three games of the season, United has lost just once in their last 10 games and goes into Houston riding a two-game win streak.
Houston will hope their offense, which has scored eight goals in their last two home games will continue.
"When you create enough chances, hopefully, you are effective enough to score," said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. "When we weren't scoring goals early on, does that surprise you? I think it's different phases of the season. When we weren't scoring, it's like 'Why aren't you scoring?' We're creating chances, but we weren't being clinical. Now we are being clinical."
The Orange will be looking to avenge a 2-1 loss at D.C. on May 26. That was the last loss Houston suffered before their current streak.
Kinnear watched D.C.'s last game against Kansas City and knows United will not be an easy task.
"Kansas City seemed to have run of play, but D.C. is always still dangerous. You have to take your chances, and you have to be smart around the goal," Kinnear said. "You have guys like (Christian) Gomez and (Luciano) Emilio and Fred and others, it makes for a difficult game. It's not going to be any easier on Sunday."
Jeremy Rakes is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
