HOUSTON DYNAMO vs CHIVAS USA
BBVA COMPASS STADIUM, Houston, Texas
Sept. 21, 2013 (WEEK 30, MLS Game #276)
7:30 p.m. CT (KPRC-NBC; KDOC/KWHY)
The Houston Dynamo and Chivas USA renew acquaintances when the clubs meet in an interconference clash Saturday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo put the skids on a four-match winless run last weekend, winning 1-0 at Philadelphia Union to regain a place in the top five in the Eastern Conference. Chivas USA were officially eliminated from playoff consideration last weekend, reaching a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers at StubHub Center.
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REFEREE: Fotis Bazakos. AR1 (bench): Kermit Quisenberry; AR2 (opposite): Mark Cahen; 4th: Jair Marrufo
MLS Career: 21 games; FC/gm: 25.0; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 2; pens: 5
DISABLED LIST: CHV: Daniel Antuñez
SUSPENDED: CHV: Carlos Borja (caution accumulation; through Sept. 22)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: HOU: Andrew Driver, Boniek Garcia … CHV: Mario de Luna
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: HOU: Corey Ashe … CHV: Bobby Burling, Carlos Alvarez, Gabriel Farfan, Tristan Bowen, Oswaldo Minda
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (17 meetings): Dynamo 10 wins, 28 goals … Chivas USA 2 wins, 12 goals … Ties 5
AT HOUSTON (3 meetings): Dynamo 7 wins, 18 goals … Chivas USA 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 2
LAST YEAR (MLS)
3/11: CHV 0, HOU 1 (Hainault 92+)
• The teams are meeting for the only time this season in league play.
2012 highlights: CHV 0, HOU 1
• The Dynamo won the only meeting between the teams a year ago, a 1-0 win in Carson. When Chivas USA defeated Houston 3-0 on July 23, 2011, it was the Red-and-White’s first league victory against the Dynamo since 2006 (a span of 12 games).
• This is the first meeting between the clubs at BBVA Compass Stadium. Chivas USA ended their history at Robertson Stadium winless all-time in league play (0-7-2).
• Coaches record: Dominic Kinnear vs. CHV: P21 W12 L2 T7 … José Luis Real vs. HOU: first game
HOUSTON DYNAMO
The Houston Dynamo put an end to their winless streak after four games, defeating Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Saturday afternoon at PPL Park. The Dynamo are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 40 points from 28 matches.
LAST MATCH
• The game's lone goal came in the 53rd minute. Brad Davis swung in a free kick from 40 yards out, and Ricardo Clark was able to squeeze between two defenders to head home from from inside the penalty area.
• Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall did not have to make a single save for the match. He was beaten in the 30th minute, allowing a Keon Daniel free kick to curl into the goal, but the apparent ruled out after defender Amobi Okugo was adjudged offside.
Highlights: PHI 0, HOU 1
• Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made three changes to the team that suffered a 2-0 loss to the Columbus Crew at Crew Stadium. Jermaine Taylor, Ricardo Clark and Brad Davis came into the team, in place of Mike Chabala, Alexander Lopez and the departed Adam Moffat.
• HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-1-3-2): Tally Hall - Warren Creavalle, Jermaine Taylor, Bobby Boswell, Kofi Sarkodie - Ricardo Clark - Jason Johnson (Brian Ownby 83), Giles Barnes (Servando Carrasco 72), Brad Davis - Will Bruin, Cam Weaver (Omar Cummings 79).
TEAM NEWS
• The Dynamo put an end to their winless streak after four matches, their second-longest winless run this season, after going seven games without a victory from May 12-June 30.
• The goal was the Dynamo first from a free kick since May 26, and their first from a deadball situation since July 13. The Dynamo have scored seven goals from set pieces this season.
• “We always try and take advantage of them,” said assistant coach Wade Barrett, who handled bench coaching duties vs. Philadelphia with Dominic Kinnear suspended. “We have guys who have really good service and have some good guys attacking the ball. For whatever reason, we haven’t gotten too many of those recently, but it was nice that we did.”
• Ricardo Clark returned to the starting lineup for the first time since coming off in the first half due to injury in the Aug. 17 game vs. Seattle, and he scored his first goal since July 6.
• Brad Davis returned to the starting lineup after missing the New York match while on international duty and recorded his first assist since Aug. 17.
• Giles Barnes played a second consecutive match in a midfield role, playing an attacking spot with Clark in a deeper-lying holding role.
• “I think having Ricardo back brings a different kind of athleticism into the team,” Barnes said. “Everyone knows that’s one of his strongest points. His athleticism to get in and around people and to get box-to-box and get winning tackles. That allows the midfielders to get a little more forward. Everyone’s got defending to do. We copy off Ricardo. He’s kind of a mouthpiece behind our movement.”
• After conceding 12 goals in their previous four matches, the Dynamo kept a clean sheet for the first time since July 6 – when they also shut out Philadelphia, 1-0.
• “It was one of those nights where the game, wasn’t perfect, but you have 10 other guys watching your back and that’s what a team effort is,” said goalkeeper Tally Hall. “We definitely took a couple of punches the last couple of weeks. It’s about how you respond, and I think we responded very well to the situation when we needed to.”
• After arriving from Seattle in a trade for Adam Moffat, Servando Carrasco made his Dynamo debut, coming on for the final 18 minutes.
CHIVAS USA
Chivas USA made it two more matches without loss, playing to a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers on Saturday evening at at StubHub Center. Chivas USA sit in ninth place in the Western Conference with 26 points from 29 matches.
LAST MATCH
• Chivas USA took the lead in the 23rd minute. After a well-worked sequence through the midfield, Bryan de la Fuente flicked a header to the top right corner from the heart of the area for the opener.
• But Diego Valeri, just five minutes after coming on as a substitute, potted the equalizer with a powerful strike past Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy from inside the box.
• Chivas USA head coach José Luis Real made two changes to the team that defeated D.C. United 1-0 at StubHub Center. Mario de Luna and Eric Avila came back into the team, in place of Marky Delgado and Julio Morales.
Highlights: CHV 1, POR 1
• CHIVAS USA (4-4-1-1): Dan Kennedy - Mario de Luna (Carlo Chueca 77), Bobby Burling, Carlos Bocanegra, Carlos Borja - Eric Avila (Tristan Bowen 88), Edgar Mejia, Oswaldo Minda, Bryan de la Fuente - Carlos Alvarez (Matthew Fondy 56) - Erick Torres.
TEAM NEWS
• Chivas USA extended their undefeated streak at StubHub Center to three matches, with two wins and a draw in that time.
• “It was the most complete game and I’m happy because despite that we didn’t win, we played a rival who is one of the strongest and I feel happy, not satisfied because we had the opportunity to win it, but we need to recognize we had a great team in front of us,” said Chivas USA head coach José Luis Real.
• Chivas have also taken points from four of their last five games overall, with two wins and two draws.
• “One of the most important difficulties to solve in our team is exactly the many changes [we face] game by game. At the beginning, [it was the] yellow or red cards, and next the arrival of a few players and maybe some injuries too,” said Real. “Now we have the complete team but we need to know each player in the game. I’m happy because usually all the players are having a good game.”
• When Mario de Luna was forced off with an injury 13 minutes from the end, Carlo Chueca came on for a second consecutive match, his longest shift since coming to Chivas USA, as Bryan de la Fuente shifted to right back.
• “Another important thing is that our team is the youngest team. Today, [it was the] first time for [Carlo] Chueca and Fondy. Bryan had to go back to defend, [Mario] De Luna was injured, Marky Delgado yesterday was injured, many different situations, but fortunately all the players are in good [shape] to solve in each game,” said Real.
• De la Fuente scored his second goal in his MLS career, his first coming on Aug. 21 vs. FC Dallas. “If people look at us we’re not the Chivas that everyone thinks. We’re the Chivas that compete 90 minutes and gets results now. It shows how the team is now, how the team got better little by little. The games that are left we’re going to try to win them and show that it’s not the same Chivas,” de la Fuente said.
• Matthew Fondy made his second appearance in the last three matches, coming off the substitutes’ bench for the final 34 minutes.
• “Fondy was on the pitch about 30 minutes, but he did a very important job. He could have scored, and went back to help in the midfield and did a great job. And Bryan de la Fuente can play forward, midfield and on defense. He’s an excellent player too,” Real said. “Both [are] new players to the league, younger, and with a lot of quality.”
