FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo will meet for the first time since last year's MLS Cup Final when the teams square off Saturday night at Robertson Stadium in Houston.
Just don't tell New England that the game means revenge for last year's penalty kick defeat to Dynamo at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
"[We want] three points." Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said. "It's just like any other game. The onus is on them, because they are at home, to create chances. It'll be a good game.
"Every game is something to prove," New England goalkeeper Matt Reis said. "What happened last year is in the past. We're trying to keep our focus and play well on the road."
Part of that focus is forgetting last year's cup final defeat and channeling the momentum from the team's early season run.
"I don't think we've lost a beat since last year," Reis said. "We have fun. We don't fear anyone, but we respect everyone. Steve and Paul [Mariner, assistant manager] are even-keeled and that inspires us."
The early season run has seen the Revolution extend their unbeaten streak to six matches (4-0-2). This is the last in a stretch of six road games in eight weeks, but Nicol believes his team needs to consolidate this good stretch of form in two weeks' time when the Revs return home to face Kansas City.
"This stretch away from home only counts if we can capitalize at home," Nicol said.
The one final road contest is in Houston against a Dynamo team that fell to a surprising 1-0 defeat in Toronto on Wednesday night. Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis thinks the loss might inspire Houston on Saturday night.
"It might make Houston hungrier," Reis said. "They may feel like they need to get points back."
Nicol watched the game between Toronto FC and Houston on Wednesday night and said that Dynamo were unfortunate to not earn a point.
"I saw most of the game," Nicol said. "Houston can count themselves unlucky not to get a point. Toronto fought the whole way."
But Nicol doesn't believe that Dominic Kinnear's side will face any ill effects from the defeat.
"Houston's a real solid team," Nicol said. "They don't blow the trumpet when they win and they don't crawl under the bed when they lose."
Revolution striker Taylor Twellman, coming off Player of the Week honors for a two-goal effort in Saturday night's 3-2 victory against Los Angeles, said that Houston will provide a stiff test.
"Houston's an honest team," Twellman said. "They're going to work their rear ends off. You don't have to worry about whether or not they are going to show up."
Twellman gave notice to his teammates on defense that they should watch out for national teammate Brian Ching. The burly Dynamo forward has two goals in six matches so far on the campaign.
"Chingy's a handful," Twellman said.
Nicol continues to have a multitude of options off the bench.
Pat Noonan is continuing his trek back towards full fitness, with Nicol indicating that he could start and play the entire match if necessary this weekend.
"He's looking sharper and sharper," Nicol said. "If push came to shove, he could go 90. It's nice to have options."
Daniel Hernandez has been passed fit after a full week of training, but Nicol said that Hernandez would not be an option for the Houston trip because he lacks the requisite match fitness.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
