[NBR] Houston Dynamo thread [Results for Dynamo games]

I don't know what the hell happened last night. An undeniably lousy FCD team managed to make one goal stand against the worst Dynamo team I've seen all year. The Dynamo didn't connect two passes in the midfield all night. The best (only) scoring chance came early in the first half when Oduro received a brilliant pass in the final third, touched it forward with a nice header, then ripped his shot into the side net. That disappointing finish seemed par for the course as the match wore on.

- FCD opened the match controlling the ball and threatening several times. The culmination of this early aggression was a poorly taken PK that Onstead caught to keep the match scoreless.

- In the last month, the Dynamo have forgotten how to cross a ball into the box or deliver a decent corner. Last night was terrible in this regard. The Mullan injury really hurts because there is no one to take his place. I like Cameron on the right side but that leave the defense, well, defenseless. (3 second half goals on Sunday, need I say more?)

- The Ashe experiment on the right side has to end. I like Ashe. He's got dangerous speed, a solid left foot, and he's all hustle but he can't play on the right. Sorry you're behind the best left foot in MLS. Until Mullan returns I think you have to give the right wing to Cruz.

- Kamara and Oduro does not work. Don't do it again. (Of course, no combination up front will work if you can't advance the ball through the midfield.)

- The quality of MLS play (last night notwithstanding) is improving by leaps and bounds. The quality of MLS officiating is the biggest embarassment to the league. A straight red card to Davis while he was sitting on the bench? I'm not kidding if you didn't see it. Ok, he did get up and take a couple steps but he didn't leave the bench area, did not make contact with the FCD player that slid into the bench, and didn't try to make contact. It would be easy to blame the generally worthless Baldomar Toledo but this call was made by the fourth official. Garber, if you want to improve MLS, improve its officials (anyone remember Seattle?)

- 19 year-old FCD forward Shea is the real deal. Someone tell him he can like Flock of Seagulls without the hair, then get him out of Dallas so he can develop.

It has to change this weekend against a Chicago Fire team that is far better than FCD.

DynamoGuy

I managed to catch most of the 2nd half last night. And that sending off.... What the hell? Surely Houston can appeal it? When they showed it again it was nothing. Davis got up and said/shoted something, but it was nothing. Maybe have a word with Davis, even give him a yellow card (and even that would probably be too much). But the sight of the 4th official, reacting as if Davis had comitted GBH on the FCD, was so pathetic it was funny. Tapping his top pocket and virtually demanding that the ref, who presumably didn't see anything, sent Davis off. A real life Comedy of Errors (well one massive error).

Maybe the 4th official just felt lonely or was simply an attention seeker, or both.

What was the attendance as there didn't seem to be too many in? I saw the Texian Army and El Battalon banners in the corner and the Dynamo support. But the home support seemed very sparse.

Even with the defeat though Houston are still in a way, way better position in the table by comparison to FCD. The commentators said post-match how the victory will have meant much more to the home side than the loss will have to Houston. Taking out of course the 'little' matter of it being a Texas Derby and not wanting to lose to your rivals.

Tonight at 11pm BST on ESPN (UK) New England vs Los Angeles. Their first live MLS game on the channel in the UK. No idea yet how many games they will be showing live, probably just those that involve David Beckham as he is still the big draw for English fans.

Just hope they do cover a Houston game at some point.

Tonight Chicago Fire visit Houston. Match will be carried live at http://www.justin.tv/dynamoguy. Kick-off is at 7:30 CST.

Have fun,
DynamoGuy

Is it some unwritten rule that Houston take a 2 or 3 goal lead, then letting the opposition hit back, before winning the game by one goal?

It is becoming a bad habit I would like for them to get rid of!

An ugly win is better than an ugly loss.

On Sun-23-Aug @ 7:30 PM the Dynamo host Seattle Sounders FC at home. The Dynamo will introduce newly signed designated player, Luis Angel Landin. It has not yet been announced if Landin will start but for sure he'll figure into the match. Catch the action at http://www.justin.tv/dynamoguy.

Have fun,
DynamoGuy

Looks like he eyeing another championship!!! Yes!

I'll be watching hopefully! Must admit to not knowing anything about Landín!

If (I mean, IF!) Landin lives up to his potential, you will get to know quite a bit about him. The Dynamo first met him in the CONCACAF Champions Cup (now CONCACAF Champions League) while he was with Mexican side, Pachuca. He was not kind to us. He a young (24,) big guy (6 foot, 1 inch,) who plays the type of physical game that fits with the Dynamo style. He has been called to the Mexican national team camp several times and been capped 5 times. If he can become a presence on the pitch, it will mean the days of the defense focusing solely on Brian Ching because the second forward is only a small threat are over. If that happens, there will be fireworks.

It is unfortunate that Landin will not be able to play for the Dynamo this year in CCL. He was named in Cruz Azul's CCL roster before coming to Houston, making him ineligible.

The Dynamo return to action 13-Sep-2009 @ 4:00 CDT against Columbus Crew. Watch it live at http://www.justin.tv/dynamoguy.

Houston 2-1 up at half-time against Real Salt Lake. I made it this far and will hopefull keep awake for the rest of the match! RSL a man short with defender Jámison Olave having been sent off.

Houston vs LA is live on television in the UK today, starting at 9:45pm on ESPN. The last home game in the league before the play-offs.

0-0, pity no goals! Good to see the stadium so full with over 29,000 there.

A bit surreal seeing Donovan Ricketts getting the Man of the Match award. The last time he was at Bloomfield Road - in the 2006-07 season in League One, he bizzarely sat in his penalty area after the match, refusing to leave the pitch after Blackpool beat Bradford City!

Good to see Houston on tv here though.

The playoffs begin tonight as the Dynamo travel to Seattle. Catch the action at 9:00 Central at http://www.justin.tv/dynamoguy.

Well a 0-0 draw in the away leg is ok in front of a crowd of about 36,000. Hopefully a win at home on 8th November now.

The only play-off game that is listed as being shown live by ESPN in the UK so far is not surprisgingly, the LA game on Sunday.

Full play-off schedule (note this is using the standard "home team first" format)

Conference semi-finals

(updated)

Real Salt Lake 1-0 Columbus Crew
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah. Saturday 31st October, kick-off 4:30pm (MDT)
Attendance: 11,499

Columbus Crew 2-3 Real Salt Lake
Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio. Thursday 5th November, kick-off 8:00pm (EST)
Attendance: 10,109
_________________________________________________________________

New England Revolution 2-1 Chicago Fire
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts. Sunday 1st November, kick-off 2:00pm (EST)
Attendance: 7,416

Chicago Fire 2-0 New England Revolution
Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois. Saturday 7th November, kick-off 7:30pm (CST)
Attendance: 21,528
_________________________________________________________________

Chivas USA 2-2 Los Angeles Galaxy
Home Depot Centre, Carson, California. Sunday 1st November, kick-off 2:00pm (PST)
Attendance: 25,218

Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 Chivas USA
Home Depot Centre, Carson, California. Sunday 8th November, kick-off 4:30pm (PST)
Attendance: 27,000
_________________________________________________________________

Seattle Sounders 0-0 Houston Dynamo
Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington. Thursday 29th October, kick-off 7:00pm (PDT)
Attendance: 35,807

Houston Dynamo 1-0 Seattle Sounders
Robertson Stadium, Houston, Texas. Sunday 8th November, kick-off 3:00pm (CST)
Attendance: 27,465
_________________________________________________________________

Conference finals

Eastern Conference:

Columbus Crew or Real Salt Lake vs New England Revolution or Chicago Fire

Western Conference;

Los Angeles Galaxy or Chivas USA vs Houston Dynamo or Seattle Sounders

MLS Cup final

The 2009 MLS Cup will be played at Qwest Field, Seattle on Sunday 22 November, kick-off 5:30pm (PST)

Real Salt Lake beat Columbus Crew 1-0 today.

There are two other games today

New England Revolution vs Chicago Fire and Chivas USA vs Los Angeles Galaxy (which is on ESPN in the UK).

ESPN have a 90 minute programme scheduled for Friday evening at 11pm simply entitled "MLS". No specific game is listed, just says, "Another chance to catch the best moments from the latest big MLS match".

In the Eastern Conference Real Salt Lake knocked out defending MLS champions Columbus Crew 3-2 and Chicago Fire beat New England Revolution 3-2.

In the Western Conference Houston beat Seattle Sounders 1-0 while Los Angeles Galaxy beat local rivals Chivas USA 3-2.

Not surprisingly the LA 1-0 second leg win at the weekend was shown live in the UK. Howevr, ESPN do take the pre-game show with Alexei Lalas so at least they showed highlights of Houston's win. Not sure if they are going to show either of the Conference finals yet though.

Western Conference final

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Hoston Dynamo
Home Depot Centre, Carson, California. Friday 13th November, kick-off 8:00pm (PST)

Eastern Conference final

Chicago Fire vs Real Salt Lake
Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois. Saturday 14th November, kick-off 7:00pm (CST)

The ESPN listings have been updated and the LA vs Houston game is now down for being shown. But starting at 4am and only for an hour!

Hopefully DynamoGuy will be streaming it live!

Absolutely!

LA 2 Houston 0 in front of a crowd of 25,373.

Someone didn't pay their electricity bill though.....

Despite Houston losing I must say that I find it hilarious all the hatred toward David Beckham from so many MLS fans. And like it or not the fact that he is now to feature in the MLS Cup should mean more people will watch the game in the UK. Beckham continues to be probably the most popular footballer in England even though he hasn't played club football here for years. And England fans still love him even though he is clearly past his best. It is funny though to see that for many MLS fans he can do nothing right no matter what he does, yet in England he can do no wrong!!

But anyway, better luck next season Dynamo! Still a good season surely to reach the Western Conference final.

No surprise - ESPN have changed their scheduled programming to show the MLS Cup between LA and Real Salt Lake live, starting at 1:30am. There will also be extended highlights at 5pm tomorrow.