With a 1-1-1 record thus far in the month of September, the Houston Dynamo currently are stuck in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, with only five games remaining on their 2012 MLS regular season schedule.

The Dynamo thoroughly outplayed Sporting Kansas City in a pivotal game back on Sept. 14, but ended up leaving the field without a victory after a CJ Sapong header in stoppage time forced a 1-1 tie. Houston could have gained a significant amount of ground in the conference with a win, and now faces a slippery slope heading into the postseason if things can't be turned around.

Winners of just one of their last six MLS contests, the Dynamo will have a difficult week ahead, with a Champions League game preceding a regular season tilt with the Philadelphia Union on Sunday. After missing the disappointing result against Sporting KC on dual suspensions, both manager Dominic Kinnear and midfielder Calen Carr will each return for Houston this week.

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