Momentum is fickle.
A team can be on a fantastic run during which they look invincible and then a result breaks their stride and pushes everything back to square one. After last Friday’s frustrating 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls ended Houston's eight-game unbeaten streak, the Dynamo were adamant that nothing has changed. Despite the loss, they feel the same way about their chances as they did before the match.
“We are not gonna take a step back because the result of this game,” goalkeeper Tally Hall (above) said after the 2-0 loss to New York. “We’re going to keep moving forward. This doesn’t change what we want to accomplish or what we’re capable of accomplishing.
“Our goal is to win every one of our games and go to the playoffs and win the whole thing," he continued. "That’s our goal – it’s a lofty one, but that’s what we’re expecting to do.”
HIGHLIGHTS: NY 2, HOU 0
Considering the mid-summer run the Dynamo are on, that may not be so lofty after all.
Houston put together the type of six-week span that many teams only dream about. Before Friday’s loss, the Dynamo had conceded just two goals in eight matches and scored 15 goals during that stetch. Under any circumstances, that kind of goal differential is utterly dominant.
However, the Dynamo, as they have all season, never seemed to buy into the hype. They have preached a mantra of staying on an even keel, and despite coming off a loss for the first time since June 23, that outlook hasn't shifted much.
Still, with an extra day of training this week because of their Sunday match against the Columbus Crew, Houston are looking to keep the effects of Friday’s loss to just one game.
“We’re staying level headed,” said forward Will Bruin. “Early on in the season we weren’t winning every game, but we stayed confident and then we got on a roll. We’re not losing confidence, we know we’re a good team and have good players and can make our goal. We’re going to have a good week of training and look forward to next week.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
