SB Nation Houston: All Posts by Jordan Wise

Dynamo Travel To Kansas City In Eastern Conference Clash

2012-07-07T19:53:40Z

With just over half of the season over, the Houston Dynamo travel to Kansas City to take on Sporting Kansas City in what should be an explosive Eastern Conference clash.

Here are some thoughts on the match from the lads over at Dynamo Theory.

As anyone involved in the construction business will tell you, foundation-building can be a frustrating thing. It's unglamorous, sometimes only distantly resembling the glittering structure you're ultimately trying to construct, and even if you follow all the plans, you frequently don't know exactly how good you did until it's far too late.

Which brings us to the Houston Dynamo as they slide on into the second half of the 2012 MLS regular season. Putting aside the memories of a frustrating, not entirely bad but ultimately missed opportunity to rescue all three points against the Chicago Fire on Tuesday night, the Dynamo are headed to Sporting Kansas City Saturday to once again try to make up ground on a team that sits above them in the Eastern Conference standings.

There is a bigger picture of abject mediocrity out of which we are trying to climb. Since beating the LA Galaxy on Memorial Day, the Orange have claimed just eight of the 18 points available and sit just barely on the inside of the playoff-qualification loop. The Sporks, like us, are also hardly setting the world on fire. Over that same span, they have claimed just seven out of 15 points, with includes the three they took at Montreal this past Wednesday. However, due to their red hot start, SKC still own 32 points overall, just one behind DC United in second place, and eight ahead of our 24.

So the stakes, as they say, have been smoking their funny cigarettes. The Dynamo are pretty much the picture of "middle of the road," with a 6-5-6 mark, scoring 22 goals while allowing 24. This is a little better than at the same point in 2011. Then, through 17 games, Dynamo were 4-6-7 (19 points) and had scored 21 goals while allowing 22. Our Orange then went 8-3-6 (24 GF, 19 GA) in the second half to finish 2011 with a 12-9-13 mark (45 GF, 41 GA) and 49 points to finish in second place in the East.

Do this again, though, and we stay in fifth. Sporting Kansas City is currently on pace for 64 points, New York and D.C United on pace for 62 points and Chicago on pace for 56 points. The Sporks, as we all remember, finished the conference race in the lead with 51 points in 2011. The saving grace and cause for hope comes in the home fixtures we still have remaining. Nine of the Orange's first 17 games were at home in 2011, while seven of the first 17 games have been at home in 2012.

The game is the first regular season visit to the City of Fountains since a 3-0 pasting last Sept. 10 that served in many ways as a sort of "Come to Jesus" moment for the Dynamo, who would not lose again until the MLS Cup final.

For those of you formation-minded, Dynamo might just once again line up in the 4-3-3 they've favored since Garcia's spaceship touched down. And in the media press notes, that is indeed projected thusly:

(GK) Tally Hall
(RB) Andre Hainault (CB) Bobby Boswell (CB) Jermaine Taylor (LB)Corey Ashe
(CAM) Luiz Camargo (CDM) Adam Moffat (LM) Brad Davis
(RW) Boniek Garcia (CF) Will Bruin (CF) Macoumba Kandji

Saturday's game is a rematch of the 2011 Eastern Conference final, a 2-0 Dynamo win in Kansas City.

Houston is 6-5-6 (24 points) after 17 games. Sporting KC is 10-5-2 (32 points) through 17 games.

Houston leads the all-time regular season series with Sporting Kansas City 5-3-4.

Injury Report as of Tuesday, July 3:
HOUSTON DYNAMO
DOUBTFUL: DF Alex Dixon (concussion); MF Calen Carr (L hamstring strain); MF Je-Vaughn Watson (L adductor strain);
QUESTIONABLE: DF Geoff Cameron (L hamstring strain)

SPORTING KANSAS CITY
OUT: DF Cyprian Hedrick (L fibula fracture); GK Jon Kempin (R ankle fracture); DF Lawrence Olum (L groin strain);
DOUBTFUL: MF Michael Thomas (R ankle sprain);
PROBABLE: FW Bobby Convey (L calf strain)

The match will begin at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Houston and MultiMedios 43 (Spanish) and can be heard on radio on SportsTalk 790 AM (English) and La Ranchera 850 AM (Spanish).

Final: Vancouver And Darren Mattocks Punish Houston, Win 3-1

2012-06-11T01:10:54Z

It was always going to be an effort for Houston to defend well with three of their four starting defenders away on international duty, and Vancouver was able to exploit that advantage three times in the night.

Vancouver started very strongly, catching the Dynamo flatfooted out of the locker room, with Darren Mattocks scoring in the third minute off a cross from the right side goal line. Mattocks was able to split Houston’s defense, getting between Bobby Boswell and Nathan Sturgis, before tapping in the ball past Tally Hall.

Houston controlled much of the rest of the first half, capitalizing on some sloppy passing from Vancouver. The Dynamo came closest to bringing the game level towards the end of the half when Bobby Boswell found himself unmarked on the far post. His volleyed effort was struck well but straight at Joe Cannon, who parried the shot away.

The game continued at a hurried pace in the second half, and Darren Mattocks was the man in form a second time when a Koffie pass again split the Houston defense, creating the space for the Jamaican to double Vancouver’s league. Warren Creavelle should have done better marking Mattocks’ run, and Hall was slow off his line, but the pass was beautiful and the finish deserved.

Houston made Vancouver sweat it out when substitute forward Macoumba Kandji, who came on for captain Brian Ching, scored a goal in the 84th minute. Houston was pressing hard and a poor clearance gifted Kandji the ball in the center of the box. The forward struck a solid effort which Joe Cannon was able to get a hand on, but was unable to keep the shot out of the back of the net.

The Dynamo forced players up field, shifting from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 formation, and were punished for the tactical shift when Jordan Harvey scored a third goal for Vancouver in the 87th minute. Harvey pressed up from his midfield position and pressured Brian Ownby who looked caught between clearing the ball and passing back to Hall, creating just enough space for Harvey to strike his effort into the back of the net.

Houston will look to bounce back next weekend against Dallas and will have a stronger line-up available, but head coach Dominic Kinnear will not be pleased with tonight’s performance.

Goal: Jordan Harvey Extends Vancouver Lead To 3-1

2012-06-11T00:55:26Z

Jordan Harvey, pushing up from his midfield position, put defender Brian Ownby under just enough pressure to make a mistake a create enough space to slot a shot past Tally Hall.

The Dynamo were pressing for an equalizer, switching from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2, but the Whitecaps were able to exploit the advantage and capitalized on another Houston mental lapse.

Goal: Kandji Strikes For Houston, Cuts Vancouver's Lead To One

2012-06-11T00:52:23Z

Dynamo striker Macoumba Kandji cleaned up a a poor Vancouver clearance and fired a shot into the Whitecap’s goal. Vancouver goalkeeper Joe Cannon was able to get a hand on the shot, but was not able to keep it out of goal.

Houston now has just over six minutes in regular time to bring the score level.

Goal: Mattocks Brace Gives Vancouver 2-0 Lead

2012-06-11T00:34:54Z

Darren Mattocks showed his class a second time in the 64th minute after picking up a Koffie pass before slotting a shot past an onrushing Tally Hall. The pass from Koffie was absolute quality, splitting Houston’s defense and catching Tally Hall off-guard. Warren Creavelle could have tracked Mattocks’ run a bit better, and Hall should have been off his line more quickly, but it was a beautiful pass from Koffie and a professional finish from Mattocks.

Half-Time: Mattocks The Difference Maker, Vancouver Lead 1-0 Over Houston

2012-06-11T00:20:16Z

Darren Mattocks punished Houston for their flat-footed start just three minutes into game after tapping in a beautiful cross from the right side of the pitch. It was a wake-up call for Houston, who then controlled the majority of the remainder of the half.

Though chances were limited, the Dynamo capitalized on a few passing miscues from the Whitecap players. Houston’s best chance on goal came late in the half when a cross found Bobby Boswell alone at the far post, who then volleyed a one-time effort across Joe Cannon’s goal. Cannon made a reflex save, which was enough to deny Houston from drawing level.

Both teams will have positives to build off, but Houston will need to continue to press if they want to challenge for an all-important three road points.

Line-Ups: Vancouver Field Strong Side, Look To Continue Run Of Form

2012-06-10T23:29:17Z

Here’s Vancouver’s Starting XI for tonight’s match against Houston.

GK: Cannon
D: YP Lee
D: Bonjour
D: DeMerit
D: Rochat
M: Koffie
M: Davidson
M: Thorrington
F: Le Toux
F: Mattocks
F: Chiumiento

Line-Ups: Dynamo Field Best Effort, Patchwork Starting XI

2012-06-10T23:26:06Z

Here’s your starting XI for the

GK: Tally Hall
LB: Warren Creavalle
CB: Bobby Boswell
CB: Nathan Sturgis
RB: Corey Ashe
RM: Calen Carr
CDM: Adam Moffat
CAM: Luis Camargo
LM: Brad Davis
F: Ching ©
F: Bruin

Warren Creavelle gets his first MLS start tonight for the Houston Dynamo. Brian Ching also marks a milestone, marking his 200th MLS game tonight (his 135th for the Dynamo).