COLORADO RAPIDS vs HOUSTON DYNAMO
DICK'S SPORTING GOODS PARK, Commerce City, Colo.
August 30, 2009 (WEEK 24) / MLS Game #172
1 p.m. MT (TeleFutura; Universal Den.)
The Houston Dynamo and Colorado Rapids meet in a key Western Conference clash on Sunday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park with both clubs looking to make a drive into the postseason. The Dynamo still hold the best overall record in MLS, but they've played more games than any other club and have just a single win in their four matches. The Rapids have alternated losses and wins for the last seven games, last a demoralizing 3-2 loss in Chicago where they led by two goals with 20 minutes to play, though Colorado still presently holds a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs race.
REFEREE: Hilario Grajeda. SAR (bench): George Gansner; JAR (opposite): Peter Manikowski; 4th: Ben Chouaf MLS Career: 23 games; FC/gm: 28.7; Y/gm: 4.0; R: 5; pens: 7
INJURY REPORT: COLORADO RAPIDS - OUT: MF Colin Clark (L ACL tear); QUESTIONABLE: DF Julien Baudet (L forearm fracture); DF Scott Palguta (R calf strain); PROBABLE: FW Conor Casey (L thigh strain) ... HOUSTON DYNAMO - OUT: DF Eddie Robinson (L knee surgery); DF Richard Mulrooney (R knee surgery); FW Cam Weaver (hernia surgery)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: HOU: Bobby Boswell, Brad Davis ... COL: Pablo Mastroeni
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: HOU: Wade Barrett, Mike Chabala, Ricardo Clark, Kei Kamara ... COL: Mehdi Ballouchy, Conor Casey, Omar Cummings, Cory Gibbs, Ugo Ihemelu, Scott Palguta
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (11 meetings): Rapids 2 wins, 11 goals ... Dynamo 7 wins, 20 goals ... Ties 2
AT COLORADO (6 meetings): Rapids 2 wins, 4 goals ... Dynamo 3 wins, 7 goals ... Ties 1
• The Rapids have never won at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo have taken the last three league matches on the campus of the University of Houston and the last four in all competitions, including a 3-1 victory in the 2006 Western Conference Championship.
• After losing to Colorado on one of their two trips to the Mile High City in both 2006 and 2007, the Dynamo came away with points in both trips last year, a scoreless draw and a 3-1 victory.
• Coaches record: Gary Smith vs. HOU: P2 W0 L2 D0 ... Dominic Kinnear v COL: P19 W11 L3 D5
LAST MEETING (MLS):
4/19: HOU 1, COL 0 (Ching 20)
• The Dynamo held on for a 1-0 victory in the first meeting between the clubs this season, April 19 at Robertson Stadium.
• The Dynamo took the lead in the 20th minute. Brad Davis put in a cross from the left flank and Brian Ching stooped to meet it for a looping header that sailed over Colorado goalkeeper Preston Burpo and settled just under the crossbar inside the back post.
• But the Rapids looked to have earned a draw when Conor Casey was tripped up in the area by Bobby Boswell seven minutes from the end. But Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad first dove to turn aside Casey's penalty kick, then somehow scrambled to his feet to block Terry Cooke's rebound effort and save the full three points.
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Richard Mulrooney, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Wade Barrett - Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Stuart Holden - Brad Davis - Kei Kamara, Brian Ching (Corey Ashe 86). Substitutes Not Used: Danny Cruz, Andrew Hainault, Tally Hall, Julius James, Craig Waibel, Chris Wondolowski
• Here's Smith's team (4-1-3-2): Preston Burpo - Kosuke Kimura, Scott Palguta, Ugo Ihemelu, Jordan Harvey - Pablo Mastroeni - Nick LaBrocca (Terry Cooke 68), Mehdi Ballouchy, Colin Clark - Conor Casey, Omar Cummings. Substitutes Not Used: Greg Dalby, Cory Gibbs, Ty Harden, Jacob Peterson, Matt Pickens, Gregory Richardson
COLORADO RAPIDS
The Colorado Rapids saw their alternating wins and losses reach seven games, but in the cruelest fashion: the Chicago Fire overcame a two-goal deficit in the final 18 minutes for a 3-2 win Sunday at Toyota Park. The Rapids have 30 points from 21 matches, in fifth place in the Western Conference, 10 points in arrears of the Houston Dynamo.
LAST MATCH
• The Fire were in final game of a three-game week, coming off a disheartening 2-0 home loss to the LA Galaxy at midweek. The Rapids were returning to action after a bye week, winning by a 4-0 scoreline for the second time in three games in a defeat of Chivas USA in their last match.
• The game burst into life just after the break, as Colorado's Omar Cummings struck twice in the span of 10 minutes. First, Jamie Smith cut into the area on the right and fired a low shot that Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch could only parry. It went straight to Cummings at the spot, and he stroked home the 48th-minute opener.
• Then Cummings scored on a stunning strike, hammering a left-footed drive from some 25 yards out on the right that sailed into the upper corner inside the near post for his eighth goal on the season.
• The Fire began their fightback in the 72nd minute. Cutting across the area, Cuauhtemoc Blanco was caught by a Kosuke Kimura challenge and went down, and referee Ramon Hernandez pointed to the spot. Blanco finished off his own penalty, his fifth goal of the season and third from a spot kick.
• In the 88th minute, the Fire pulled even. The ball was tackled away at the top of the area, but went directly to Mike Banner at the left edge of the box, and he ripped a wicked blast high inside the far post for his second goal in three games.
• Then the Fire scored the winner in stoppage time. Two chances came from a corner kick, the second parried at the line by Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens, and Justin Mapp chased down the loose ball. He whirled in a cross from the right and center back Dasan Robinson was left all alone, heading home for his first goal of the year.
• Rapids head coach Gary Smith made one change to the team that defeated Chivas USA 4-0 at home two weeks earlier. Jacob Peterson came in on the left of midfield in place of the injured Colin Clark.
• Here's Smith's team (4-1-3-2): Matt Pickens - Kosuke Kimura, Cory Gibbs, Scott Palguta (Ugo Ihemelu 46), Jordan Harvey - Pablo Mastroeni - Jamie Smith (Mehdi Ballouchy 73), Nick LaBrocca, Jacob Peterson (Greg Dalby 81) - Conor Casey, Omar Cummings. Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo, Facundo Diz, Ty Harden, Pat Noonan
TEAM NEWS
• The Fire loss continued a stretch now of five games where the Rapids have alternated losses and wins, and was their fifth loss in the last eight league games overall.
• "It is a 90-minute game, and we will be ready tomorrow to get back on track, but we were on the receiving end of a 3-2 loss. I thought for 70 minutes that you could possibly say that we were the better team but if you don't play for 90 minutes then it's the punishment you get," Smith said.
• The Dynamo game is the first of back-to-back home games for Colorado, vital in their push to the playoffs. After those two games, the Rapids play five of their final seven games away from Dick's Sporting Goods Park, having won just twice in 10 road games on the season.
• "Each game becomes bigger and bigger for us. Next week, Houston at home is not going to be a cakewalk by any means, it's going to be a tough game and it's something where we need to get three points," goalkeeper Matt Pickens said. Today's game was a must-win for three points for us we thought in our locker room but the game got away from us."
• Omar Cummings has now been involved in some way in each of the Rapids' last six goals. He scored both goals against Chicago and was credited with assists in the first three goals of the 4-0 win against Chivas USA; he did not receive an assist on the fourth, but he suffered the foul in the penalty area that led to Conor Casey's penalty kick that completed his hat trick.
• Cummings is bidding to be just the second player in Colorado club history to have at least 10 goals and 10 assists in a season. Mark Chung had 11 goals and 10 assists in 2002; Cummings now has eight goals to go with his league-leading 10 assists.
• If the season ended today, the Rapids would qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs out of the four-way tie for seventh place overall and the final two available postseason spots. However, that race will get very interesting over the next two weekends, as Colorado and Toronto FC (one of the other teams tied, along with Real Salt Lake and New England), play a home-and-home series.
• "I don't think it fills anyone with any sort of trepidation," said Smith. "There's plenty of points, there's plenty of time, we are in a good spot. I'm sure there are teams feeling as much if not more pressure than us. We are not concerned about getting to 40 points. What we are concerned about is making sure we're in the right mental, physical, and team place to achieve as much as we can, not just make the playoffs."
HOUSTON DYNAMO
The Houston Dynamo played to a draw for the second consecutive week in running their unbeaten streak to three games, though Seattle Sounders came back for a 1-1 draw Sunday at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo still lead the Western Conference with 40 points from 24 matches and now again lead the Supporters' Shield race, a point ahead of Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew.
LAST MATCH
• The Dynamo had just two wins in their seven games after a scoreless draw at Real Salt Lake in their last outing, while Sounders FC went down to defeat for the third time in four games in a 1-0 home loss to New England just three days before.
• The home side took the lead after 36 minutes. Brad Davis sent in a free kick from well out on the right and Geoff Cameron rose up to send a skimmed header past Kasey Keller for his first goal on the campaign.
• Just minutes after Steve Zakuani contrived to miss an open goal from all of three yards out, the rookie redeemed himself. James Riley carried down the right flank and sent a cross to the far post. Zakuani headed it back across goal and Nate Jaqua adjusted his body to force home the volley for the 70th-minute leveler, his seventh goal on the season and first in seven games.
• Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made two changes to the team that played to a scoreless draw at Real Salt Lake the week before. Brian Mullan and Ricardo Clark came back into the team, in place of the suspended Andrew Hainault and Corey Ashe.
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-3-1-2): Pat Onstad - Ryan Cochrane (Craig Waibel 75), Geoff Cameron, Bobby Boswell, Wade Barrett - Brian Mullan, Ricardo Clark, Brad Davis (Corey Ashe 72) - Stuart Holden - Brian Ching, Kei Kamara (Luis Angel Landin 75). Substitutes Not Used: Mike Chabala, Danny Cruz, Tally Hall, Dominic Oduro
TEAM NEWS
• Since reeling off five consecutive victories May 23-June 13, the Dynamo have won just three times in their last 11 league games. The Sounders FC comeback marked the fourth draw in that time.
• "It was a tough game, and I think a draw is pretty fair. We have a lot of respect for how they play. They make it really difficult, and they close down the space pretty well.I think if we were a little sharper in the final third, we really could have helped ourselves out," Kinnear said. "... They are a tough team to play. Getting a point is nothing to be disappointed about, but it is tough to lose the lead."
• The Dynamo have still lost just once at Robertson Stadium, in 12 league games. Columbus (7-0-4) and D.C. United (5-0-5) are still undefeated on their home grounds in league play this season; Houston and Real Salt Lake have identical records at home (7-1-4).
• "We're always disappointed [not winning] at home. No matter who we play in this league, we feel that we can win. You want to get three points at home, and tonight with only one was a bit disappointing," said Pat Onstad. "We could have created a big gap there at the top, but it wasn't to be tonight. Seattle created more than enough opportunities to get their goal in the second half, and sure enough they got theirs."
• On Wednesday, the Dynamo played the second game in their CONCACAF Champions League campaign, getting a wild 1-1 draw with Deportivo Arabe Unido of Panama. Kei Kamara gave the Dynamo a 69th-minute lead but Orlando Rodriguez scored the equalizer in stoppage time for the home side. The Dynamo were left with eight players after Corey Ashe, Andrew Hainault and Stuart Holden were all sent off; Arabe Unido also had two players sent off.
• Here's Kinnear's team: Tally Hall - Ryan Cochrane (Bobby Boswell 78), Andrew Hainault (sent off 81), Mike Chabala, Corey Ashe (sent off 55), John Michael Hayden, Erik Ustruck, Geoff Cameron (Stuart Holden 46; sent off 86), Danny Cruz (Brian Mullan 72), Kei Kamara, Dominic Oduro
• "I think it was a hard-fought point," Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall said. "It's always difficult to play here, so I think we're coming out with high spirits. We did get a point, and we're looking good in the group. We're disappointed that we gave up a late goal, but happy enough with the result."
• Next up for Dynamo in the Champions League is a trip to Mexico to take on Pachuca, which lost to Arabe Unido, 4-1 on Matchday 1, on Sept. 16. The lone MLS team to ever earn a draw south of the border, Houston will attempt to be the first Major League Soccer team to win a competitive match in Mexico.
• "We come here and we try to take points away, whether it's three or it's one point," Kamara said. "We just don't want to come out here and go back with zero points. We're happy with the point, because we get to host them later at our house. Pachuca came over here and they got pounded, and we came over and were able to get away with 1-1, so that's good, and it's going to be a different result when they come to Robertson Stadium."
