Rapid Trend

I like the short trend we've established with our Western Conference rivals, the Colorado Rapids. After winning at home 5-2, we were able to earn a clean sheet in the rarefied air in Denver, making Ching's first half goal all of the scoring we needed to win 3 points.

The Rapids were certainly dangerous, with a healthy Clint Mathis back in the line up. We were lucky on many of the shots that went high, and quality defending and goal keeping took care of the rest. After giving up 2 goals a game, Dynamo managed to hold ReAL to one and now Rapids to zero. This is a good trend...as is the trend of winning versus the Rapids.

I did not see the DC United game, so I can't comment on that one, but of the other Dynamo games I thought that this game versus the Rapids was the most disjointed and unrhythmic, but that is to be expected where the air is thin. Even with this atmospheric disadvantage, Dynamo was able to control large portions of the game, threaten Cannon repeatedly, and weather the powerful attacks of the Rapids...and, most importantly, earn 3 points.

We lose Moreno next week due to a Red Card last week, but Cerritos should be a comparable substitute. He'll need to be in his top form if we're going to win the first Texas Cup matchup with F*C* Dallas. If Ching gets called up to the National Team for the World Cup, Kinnear will have to field a severely modified front line, since that means both starting forwards are out. Perhaps DeRo moves up with Cerritos, Clark moves up to Attacking Mid, and Serioux moves up to Holding Mid. Perhaps not. Perhaps Ching isn't even called up...we'll find that out tomorrow.

The team will be better off if Ching isn't called up, but I think everyone is hoping that he is. I think he'd be a better asset than Taylor Twellman in Germany -- particularly if Ching's paired with Donovan as a mid or as the other forward -- but Bruce Arena seems to favor Twellman and will probably give him the nod. We'll see tomorrow.