The first trademarked Dynamo win of 2009

The Dynamo have their first winning streak of the season after finally beating the New England Revolution at Foxboro. Holden scored from distance in the first half (via an uncharacteristic howler from Matt Reis letting the ball squirt under him and through his legs) then a patented Ching Snap-Header(TM) from a Davis corner kick in the second half sealed the deal. Add another Dynamo Clean Sheet(R) and you've got the first typical Dynamo win of the season.

Some among you would argue that last week's win versus Colorado was the first vintage Dynamo win because it involved (1) only one goal, (2) which was a [freakin' awesome] header by Ching, (3) from a cross by Davis, (4) coupled with a clean sheet, (5) in a home game, (6) on natural grass. I can't really argue with that list, but that game felt a like it involved a little luck (the cynics among you saying, "That's reason #7!") what with Onstad making several superhuman saves, none more important than the PK and successive point-blank shot.

What I liked about today's game was that we looked more like the aggressor even though we were the visiting team. Sure we were helped by the Revs missing several starters (been there), but even with their starters, Coach Nicol tends to play an ugly anti-soccer anyway. The gaffe by Reis to open up the scoring should have changed the complexion of the game. Usually the visitor bunkers in (New England, I'm looking at you!) and the home team becoms the aggressor. Instead, the Revs didn't get their first shot on goal until two-thirds of the game had passed.

It's good to get successive 3-points. That puts us only 11 points from the conference leaders, Chivas USA. Uh, 11 points back six games in? Oh. Well, at least we're gaining some ground.

Other highlight from the Revs game: seeing Andrew Hainault mesh with the back line to get the clean sheet, and seeing Ade Akinbiyi get some time with the team. Hainault saw more than a half of action and did very well. We didn't see much from Ade, given that he played only 5 minutes; but it was good to see him on the field. He looks strong.

Stadium News
The Chronicle has an article on the latest stadium developments.

This sounds good:

They envision an all-round two-level, all-seater venue with 34 suites, 86 concession point-of-sales, a 3,000 square-foot club level and a party deck on the southeast corner.

Plans also call for at least one canopy (west stands).... The field would be 13 feet below street level. The first seating level would be set on concrete, with aluminum for the upper level.

This doesn't:

A slick, intimate, futuristic-looking building with orange accents.

Plans also call for ... a stage (permanent or removable) on the south end.

I suppose stadium-beggars can't be choosers but I would rather have something architecturally similar to the nearby Minute Maid Park. It would be something timeless that would look contemporary, but with classical, vernacular elements that say "this is part of Houston's roots." Something slick and futuristic soon looks dated and cheap, like the Astrodome or Disney's Tomorrowland. It also looks like a flash-in-the-pan.

As for the stage, it had better be removable. I want the stadium to look like a stadium and nothing else. It should have wrap-around seating so that there is no place for the opponent to find peace away from the partisan Orange fans. The worst stadium development to happen in the past few years is when the Columbus Crew removed seats to install an ugly, permanent, dead zone so they could bring in a few concerts a year. This is not a soccer-specific stadium; it's a soccer-when-it's-convenient stadium. And it's not what we need or want for Houston.

I speak for all of Houston, by the way.

Sometimes I really hate this game

How painful is it to not be able to win in regulation + extra time when you have 25 shots, 14 on goal, to the opponent's 15 shots, 7 on goal! And those 14 on goal don't even count the two off the left post! Arrgh! (Game preview. Game review.)

I've written before that this is not the Dynamo of yesteryear. This one loses to the Revs in a Championship game. This one has ginormous defensive gaffes -- and more than one! -- that allow goals. The usually stalwart Captain Barrett lets a ball drop into the box and doesn't stay with it, thus giving Ralston the ball, the space, the angle, and the first equalizer; while Bobby Boswell, who was B-Swell all match, reverted to BoBo on one play in overtime to give Shalrie Joseph the second equalizer. And that second goal was on a set play; Dynamo-Houston of yesteryear was golden on set plays.

On the other hand, this Dynamo team did other things that were uncharacteristic, like getting 14 shots on goal, taking the first lead in a final, and getting to a non-MLS Cup final in the first place. And how about Ching being the provider, sending in the cross for another player to head for a goal?

This has been the season of ties. Because we settled for yet another draw tonight, we had to go to a virtual coin flip to determine who gets to pick up the trophy. PKs are always a gamble. Excellent kick by The Waibel to set the tone. I had a bad feeling about DeRo (he seemed off all night, despite the countless opportunities he had on goal) and that proved correct. I then was hoping Ching would (1) not do the stutter step and (2) change his routine by shooting to the left. Well, he didn't do the stutter, but he went to the right, just like the last time he faced Reis. Onstad gave his side the saves they needed to win, only his buddies couldn't get the ball into the net every time. Just like in the game.

Can't complain about the PK result though. Those are really just crapshoots. I really can't complain about the offensive production either. We should have had more goals, sure; but if you said before the game that we'd get 2 past Reis, I'd take that straight up. My complaint is really with the lapses that gave the Revs their two goals. It should never have gone to PKs.

Take away the awful gifts by the defenses and we win 1-0 in overtime. As it is, we do continue the traditions of yesteryear by not winning a non-MLS Cup trophy. After ending our chances with the Pan-Pacific Cup, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Open Cup, and the SuperLiga Cup, and drawing our way out of contention for the Supporters' Shield (my favorite of the awards), only the MLS Cup remains. Frankly, that's the most important one as that's the only one that gives us the unprecented "three-peat". It's also the one that gives one an automatic berth into all of the tournaments that add spice to the season.

But maybe, just maybe, this is the season where we learn what it's like to be a true supporter of a soccer club. Instead of rating the team based on the awards won and the accolades bestowed by the soccer literati; maybe this is the season where we appreciate the team for what it is: a solid, hard-working, talented team that plays an attractive style of soccer, with players that give their all for us each match. And maybe next year we get to see how the team fares when it has only MLS league games to squeeze into the schedule.

Maybe. But I'm not sure I'm mature enough for that sort of character growth, so let's just get the three-peat, 'kay? We can deal with not getting the MLS Cup in some future season when we've gotten something else, say a CONCACAF Champions League Cup or at least an Open Cup. We need the MLS Cup this season. Grab the unprecedented three-peat, then we'll negotiate on what trophies must be earned next season...

Go DYNAMO!

Adios Pachuca!-SuperLiga

What a night! What a result! (Game recap.)

I should no longer refer to Bobby Boswell as BoBo. My wife suggests B-Swell has a more positive ring to it. And B-Swell's game winner comes a day or so after he says "For me, the goal is definitely to beat Pachuca, a team that [the Dynamo] played a lot last year. And if I can be a catalyst to help the team get past them and get into the finals, then that's a big step for me and the team." Congrats on your big step, Catalyst!

And I wonder how many more games I'll have to watch before I see Corey Ashe get another goal off a header. He's the smallest guy on the pitch, isn't he?

I thought there was a lot of energy in the crowd tonight. The two supporters' groups did well stirring up noise and fervor. We also were introduced to our newest player: Kei Kamara. He looked good, though he did not seem to have gelled with the team yet. No surprise there at this point.

My family tried a new seating position this time: Section 124. From that section we were looking over DeRo's shoulder when he made the two dangerous shots on goal from the left flank in the first half. The first shot looked like he was trying to bend it as a cross, only the ball didn't bend and it became a shot that was easily snuffed by Calero. The second shot looked like he swiveled to fake a cross, then attempted a clever flick that Calero deflected. Had a middie timed his run right, the deflection would have led to an easy follow-up shot on goal. (When I rewatched the play on Telemundo, it looked like Jaqua and Mullan actually were trailing the play, but the ball didn't get near them unfortunately.) DeRo's best shot was around the 8th minute. It was a spinning left-footed volley from about 25 yards out that Calero had to stretch to deflect over the ball. That shot, had it been a goal, would have been on the highlight reel.

From our seats, we were also in line with the play in the second half when Pachuca had a goal called back due to offside. We didn't see the infraction at the time, and watching the replay on Telemundo, it appears there wasn't one.

Before this divine/referee intervention, we also saw some excellent saves by Onstad in the first 5 minutes of the second half. The veteran saved our skin tonight.

I'd give Dynamo-H the edge in the first half. They had the better possesion and the better threats on goal. Pachuca completely dominated the first 5 minutes of the second half, and after that the game evened out (except for that fast break non-offside non-goal that we were gifted).

As the game wore on, I worried that we would head into extra time. If the Tuzos were able to sneak past the Dynamo yet again, who would I root for in the final, I wondered? Well, regardless of who wins the New England-Atlante match, I'd have to root for Pachuca. They're a quality team, and I won't root for the Revs as long as Steve Nicol is killing the game for them.

Then a bit of magic in the 77th minute when a DeRo corner is headed on by Waibel for a timely tap-in with B-Swell's side foot. After that, the game opened up as Pachuca sought the equalizer and the Dynamo had more opportunities to counter. Ashe's header 10 minutes later ensured that the non-offside gift wouldn't taint the Dynamo's victory.

Pachuca played a solid game, until their emotions got the best of them as time wore down. Then there was a fracas after the game. It seems Pachuca is only a class act when they're on top; they don't have the emotional maturity to face disappointment like men. Hats off to Calero (surprisingly, particularly after his antics with Dom at halftime) and Torres to show class and sportsmanship in their respective post-game interviews. They need to do some remedial training for some of their teammates.

Wednesday night, I guess I'll root for Atlante so we get the final at home. Either opponent would be difficult. We beat Atlante 4-0 in the group stage, so they'll be gunning for us -- plus they appear to have their edge back. Also, it's difficult to beat the same team twice in one tournament. New England would be difficult because they know how to frustrate the Dynamo, beating us for a combined 5-0 tally in our two matches this year. We've beaten them the past two MLS Cup championships, but that only makes the odds for a third consecutive championship victory seem that much more difficult to attain over the same opponent. Plus, we'd be on their home field with their fake turf. So, it's go Atlante.

But, Go Dynamo! even more.

Three points from the four-day match

Well, THAT was probably the strangest match of the season. (Game recap. Quotes.) Dynamo-Houston went to DC on June 4 to begin the match (abandoned after 15 minutes), then was hours away from restarting the match on July 22, then finally began the replayed match on July 23 and finished it in the wee hours of July 24.

I worried when I read on B-Fall's blog that the officials were going to restart the match at 10:40 after the 3 hour rain delay. At that point, up 1-0 and having dominated the match, Dynamo-H had nowhere to go but down. Three points in hand couldn't get any better. The break could have broken their rhythm. The puddles could ruin their passing game.

Luckily, the Dynamo still were the better team. DCU had two (three?) extremely scary, possibly game-changing shots on goal that Onstad managed to snuff out, but other than that, it was all Dynamo.

Dude: 23 shots to 4. That is total domination. Yet, if Ching hadn't gotten that insurance goal, or if Onstad hadn't been clutch, all those shots wouldn't have given us the points we deserved. Hats off to Onstad, Cameron, Mullan, Davis, and Ching for earning us the points. Others were able to create the domination on the field of course, but it was those five that managed to turn our advantage to points. DeRo was instrumental in the game, the midfield completely shut down the passing lanes and managed the transitions extremely well, and our defense were the aggressors on the ball. Nice job all around, but a special tip o' the hat to those who saved goals and made or assisted on goals.

DeRo had some near-gimmees in the first half, but Zach Wells or a defender's ill-placed extremity seemed to always deny the Canadian Creator. We need DeRo to unleash the dogs of war and net these opportunities when they arise in our upcoming SuperLiga matches and the remaining MLS league games. DeRo will create those opportunities -- he's a master at that -- we just need him to get his finishing mojo back.

The bad news from the match: our next game will be without our two attacking mids: DeRo (card accumulation) and Holden (Olympics). We will also be without ERob most likely (injury) and his understudy, Ianni (Olympics). We will have Rico back. Kinnear has a lot of options, thankfully, but he will have to be creative. And he won't have his first choices at several key positions.

Tonight Onstad and DeRo are to play in the All-Star Game, the same day that they finished their match in DC. I won't be surprised if we don't see either player on the field tonight.

Now it's back to SuperLiga for a bit. I want to beat Pachuca so badly and I want that SuperLiga trophy. Why? Mainly because the odds of winning the MLS Cup are slim so you want to take the silverware that's immediately available. Also because I do not want the plodding Revolution to take it. I'm rooting against them in the US Open Cup too. It grates on me that they're the leader for the Supporters' Shield -- I don't want their style of play to be rewarded. They have too much talent to play the crappy game they play. Yet that talent is compensating for -- and, more irritatingly, justifying -- Stevie Nicols' unimaginative leadership.

Go Dynamo!

SuperLiga-Final Group Stage Match

Tonight the Dynamo face DC United in a do-or-go-home match. The good news is that we have DeRo, Ching, and ERob back in the lineup; but will Ching and ERob be match fit after their injury? We also have Ianni and (most importantly) Holden for the two DCU matches before they traipse off to the Olympics in search of honor and glory. We also have Nate Jaqua, though I doubt he sees action. Maybe in our Tuesday DCU replay.

We won't have Caraccio anymore. That's a shame, but understandable given the limitations on salaries and personnel set by the League. Buena suerte, Caraccio! (I took French, not Spanish, in school, so forgive any solecism.) I know you'll find a club that suits you well.

(The same day, LA released Abel Xavier.)

Winning tonight's match is vital, but B-Fall has all of the different scenarios of winners and losers mapped out in his blog.

There's been more coverage of the Dynamo's fight on behalf of all MLS players to get better compensation from tournament purses. Or at least to allow clubs to decide what is fair for their own players. Sounds reasonable. B-Fall has an article on the imbroglio. That MLS would prevent a team from voluntary striking bonus deals with players for this type of tournament can also hurt a team like the Dynamo, who could use the incentive to entice a player to sign with the team. ESPN has an article as well.The Dynamo case could set a precedent. If an arbitrator rules in favor of Dynamo players, each MLS team could be allowed to determine payouts to players for tournaments. This certainly challenges the single-entity system and could become a milestone decision.

In other soccer news, some of the New England Revs' staff are keeping the skies safe. Certainly a timely move by the MLS club members. Even off the field the club can effectively kill any offensive environment; sometimes it is not only easier, but better, to destroy than to create.

A new low in the Season Of Mediocrity

The Season Of Mediocrity (SOM) continues. Tonight, we continued our chronic inability to shoot balls on frame. Add an amateurish coffee break by the usually stalwart defense (Ianni and Barrett not communicating, thus allowing Cooper an open header on goal). Sprinkle in spineless officiating by a ref who is afraid to force players to play quality soccer; on that note, it was a smart play by Richetti to trip Holden from behind when Holden was going 1v1 with the keeper, but the price for his smart play would have to be leaving his team with 10 men for the final 13 minutes. It's a heavy price, but a worthy one...and one it turns out he didn't have to pay thanks to the spineless ref.

The result: a 1-1 tie, the third draw in this three-game series. With 4 away goals to our 2, Dallas takes El Capitan for the first time. Enjoy the gun in 2009, fellas; your cynicism earned it tonight (and Caig's cold hands gave you the 2 decisive away goals you needed on April 6).

Pet peeve of the night: Shooting the ball so high or so wide that Sala just glances casually at the ball as we blow another chance.
Pet peeve of the night, runner up: With 4 minutes of stoppage time and the clock at 4:01, our defenders pittypat the ball around the back rather than driving the ball quickly forward. Slim chance you score in the last moments with a rushed ball. No chance you score when the ball is at the halfway line and the final whistle blows. Another example of our non-champion mentality this year.

Without a doubt, Houston was the best team on the field tonight -- just as we were for most of the 7 draws we suffered this season (on schedule to set a MLS record for most draws in a season, woo-hoo!). But there is also no doubt that Houston is borderline incompetent when it comes to the attacking third. Also, there's no doubt that they are uncharacteristically lax and cavalier on defense at inconvenient times. This is not the Houston Dynamo that won the 2006 Championship nor the 2007 Championship, doing so both times with a crushing defense and potent (if sometimes inconsistent) offense. The only thing that remains from those teams is the ability to penetrate along the flanks from the back, and the ability to possess the ball and generate opportunities in the middle. But until we fix the problems up front, and until we regain the continuous (as in "non-stop") professional composure in the back, we can't expect to win the MLS Cup.

There are other things that we can achieve instead of the MLS Cup this season, including (in descending order of prestige): winning SuperLiga, winning the US Open Cup (maybe this should be first, since it guarantees a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League), and winning the Reserve League that we currently lead. Personally, I hope we fix our attack first.

The Supporters' Shield? Oh that's out of the question. You have to win consistently to get that. Even the stalwart teams of yesteryear couldn't do that.

Of course, with half the teams getting into the post-season in this silly league, the Dynamo should remain in contention for the MLS Cup, even with their bajillion draws. But we've seen plenty of harbingers that suggest this season will not be like the last two. The most recent harbinger is losing El Capitan for the first time, but there have been others, including losing by more than one goal at Robertson (New England, 0-2, June 12).

Having said that, this team tends to deliver results when the odds are stacked against them. If that's the case, then they're setting themselves up for some crazy-awesome results later this season. Here's hoping.

Until then...Go Dynamo!

Addendum:
Here are the game quotes. Kinnear: "The guys are disappointed, as we should be. At the halfway point [of the season], I don't think we are getting as many points as we want or need."

But he claims the team is still one of the league's elites. Disappointing season aside, I agree with him. The team is one of the best; it just has to become more composed and more consistent. How about Ching's take on the defense? "You look at our team and what has made us successful the past couple of years. It's defense. We have been one of the best defensive, if not the best, defensive team in the league. But now we've got guys letting in mistakes. They are making big mistakes and costing us games. It's the same guys costing us 3-4 games, so it's disappointing." Wow: It's the same guys costing us 3-4 games. I can't disagree with that, but that's not something you hear from a teammate like Ching too often. And while the defense could always counter by pointing out the chances repeatedly missed by the forwards, I hope they instead focus on what they can do to make the team better. That would be the mature and honorable thing to do. In other words: the Orange thing to do.

Calm returns

Calm in quietude is not real calm; when you can be calm in the midst of activity, this is the true state of nature.
Happiness in comfort is not real happiness; when you can be happy in the midst of hardship, then you see the true potential of the mind.
-Huanchu Daoren

A few days after the Dynamo defeat, and I am once again at peace. In rewatching the game, I see that we played quite well, except for three plays on defense (two of which cost us) and except for an inability to get the ball into the net. We did nearly everything else right, though.

In looking at the standings, we're still well positioned. This is partially due to the fortune of being in the Western Conference, yes; but good teams will take advantage of good fortune.

I also noticed in my review of the match, that the Dynamo did, in fact, do more on the field than Marlen did. Apologies, fellas.

So, I'm spending Father's Day with a bit less REVulsion and less spite than I felt in the hours after the New England game.

However, should Barbados surprise the USMNT this afternoon, I reserve the right to throw peace and tranquility out the window and revert to venomous frustration.

Aggravation and REVulsion at the REVolting game

I can't think of a game much more aggravating that this one. The Revs play some of the ugliest soccer there is...but it's effective soccer. Particularly with Caig in the opposite goal.

Conceding the whole field to the Dynamo, the Revs were happy with occasional forays into our end. That's all they've needed in the past, and that was all they needed tonight. We have an aggregate of 0-5 goals versus the boring team from Foxboro, and we're even 0-3 with our A-team on the field. (Game recap; Chronicle recap. Kinnear: "Those guys were given an opportunity. If you ask for an opportunity and I give it to you, now it's your responsibility to take advantage." Ouch. But well said.)

Tonight we learned nothing. Here are some things that we already knew but which led to our defeat:
1. Possession does not lead to goals.
2. We have trouble scoring without DeRo or Ching.
3. We have trouble scoring because we have trouble getting a shot on goal.
4. We have difficulty breaking down bunkered in teams.
5. Caig is a shaky keeper that cannot keep us in games.
6. Stutter-step PKs are not smart. It didn't work for the best player in the world (that's Christiano Ronaldo) in the Champions League Final, how could it work for Stuart Holden. (And Holden took an absolute blistering shot vesus Reis in the MLS Cup Final of 2006; why change it up now?!)
7. Coach Steve Nicol hates soccer but loves his job. His antipathy and his security are both supported by his team's style of play.
8. John Harkes will throw an "as well" into the middle or at the end of any sentence, even if it doesn't make sense. That may not have been a factor leading towards our defeat, now that I think about it, but it did irritate me.

Even though we controlled possession, it wasn't due to solid passing play or creative dribbling. We didn't do ANY of that. It was just because the Revs were playing defensively. They don't care about the beautiful game -- never have. They care only for what matters: 3 points. Well they got it. And the Dynamo certainly didn't deserve 3 from tonight.

Us: 15 shots, 5 on goal (33%)
Them: 7 shots, 6 on goal (86%) and of course 2 IN goal.

Was there a bright spot? Sure. Her name is Marlen.

Marlen is a University of Houston student majoring in Hotel and Restaurant Management with a Minor in Dance -- the exact same academic combination as Warren Buffet's, I think. Her ideal evening would center on a five-course meal at an upscale restaurant. Don't expect her to paint the town red afterwards, though. No, sir! She'd much rather relax in front of a good movie. Perhaps something that provides great introspection on the human condition. Or something starring Clooney.


Okay, seriously. The bright spot(s) for me tonight was Mullan. And Ashe. Mullan was everywhere, and he was hungry. He had two rockets that forced Reis to make his patented Reis Uber-Save. He also nutmegged Reis with a ball that went just wide of the goal. I was surprised that Kinnear took Mullan out in the second half. Perhaps Mulls was spent. He was offside a lot in the second half.

Ashe was also threatening tonight, and had a few looks at goal himself. Sure he sometimes traps himself in the corner, but he was putting New England on its heels all night and was exciting to watch throughout.

Holden didn't have a bad game overall. He just didn't seem as smooth and decisive as he has in the past. He was doing the heavy lifting throughout the match, but he had some notable gaffes. He was frozen about midway through the first half when Ashe sent a ball through the box that Cameron merely nicked; and Holden looked positioned to do something with the ball but was taken aback by Cameron's (mis)strike. Yeah, Holden also had that poor penalty kick (go back to the decisive shot, Stuie), but I think that may have been the Lords of Soccer bringing justice for the poor call. I don't think a PK should have been awarded.

And then there's Caig. I say the Dynamo get a clean sheet if Onstad is back there. Onstad probably intercepts the pass before it gets to Ralston on the first goal. That goal wasn't really the fault of the keeper though; the left mid should have been back to cover Waibel's man when Waibel had to cover Ianni's. I can say with some assurance that Onstad stops the second goal. First of all, he wouldn't concede the corner kick in the first place off such a simple shot on goal. Second, I don't recall him ever chesting the ball into his own net. Granted, once again our defense bequethed time and space to an opponent -- our our own box, no less -- allowing an easy shot, but the shot went to the keeper. A professional keeper should get those.

A weekend off from the inconsistent Dynamo. Let's hope the USMNT takes care of business versus Barbados, ideally with some solid play from Ching. Let's also wish DeRo, Onstad, and the Canadian National Team the best of luck as they head to Kingstown.

Tonight's game pREView

See how I worked "Rev" into the title? And we're playing the Revs tonight? That, my friends, is how journalists create energy and relevance to introduce an otherwise routine story. No, my friends, I am no journalist.

Ahem, tonight the Revs come to town. (Game guide.) Last we met, in blustery Foxboro, we were spanked by their newbie players for a 0-3 loss. Tonight's game will be notable for who will not be there.

No DeRo, no Ching, and no Onstad is a combination that would scare any Orangeman. There goes our scoring and our clean sheet. Let's see: no goals for us plus goals for them, well that equals a loss, right?

But the Revs will be without their creative Shalrie Joseph and key goal scorers Twellman, Kenny Mansally, and Khano Smith.

We'll call it a wash. Particularly since Brad Davis will be back.

The question remains: can we score? Well, our defenders are great at scoring on set pieces, and Stuie has quite a shot. Our young forwards are also due. Ya' hear me, Caraccio? You're due.

The remaining Revs are no slouches, with Ralston the ubiquitous provider of scoring opportunities, Cristman and Nyassi more than capable of netting goals, and Reis making über-saves in the back. That's right, I used an umlaut. Despite the challenge posed by the Revs and their umlaut selves, I'm going to stick with my contrarian view of "when we should win we won't; when things are going against us we win." I say Dynamo 2-0. And that's with Caig in goal, I know. Now it's up to the Dynamo to make me look good and put a brace past Reis.

Here's the MLS article on the match. DeRo: "I'm 100 percent confident in the talent on the bench, I'm sure they'll get the job done."

The game is on ESPN, so they have a pre-game article. The Dynamo have never beaten the Revs in five regular-season meetings, including a 3-0 beatdown on March 29. MLS Cups have been a different matter entirely however, with the Dynamo claiming the last two titles at the Revs' expense. And Kinnear says: "The first key for us is to have our outside backs attacking, jumping into space. The second key is to switch the ball quickly. If you do that, then you give [New England] problems. If you sit back too far, and let them pressure you in your end with their numbers, then you can't really get out."

The Chron has an article on BoBo, who is becoming a bonafide MIO. When the Dynamo host the New England Revolution tonight, Boswell, 25, will notch his 13th consecutive league start — something only one other Dynamo, Richard Mulrooney, has accomplished this season.

Before being selected for the USMNT match vs Barbados, Ching was selected MLS Player of the Week for his 2-goal, 1-assist game versus Toronto. B-Fall had a link (which may not last past this week) that showed how the members of the Fourth Estate voted. This is an interesting data point that I had never seen. No surprise that the opinionated Jamie Trecker didn't vote for Ching. I am surprised that Andrea Canales didn't vote for Beckham or Donovan (even though Donovan didn't play). Here is the voting breakout:

WEEK ELEVEN: JUNE 4-8
Brian Ching: Houston Dynamo
Ching registered two goals and an assist in Houston’s 3-1 victory over Toronto FC on Sunday.

National or non-market reporters
Marc Connolly: Matt Reis
JP Dellacamera: Brian Ching
Beau Dure: Brian Ching
Jonah Freedman: Brian Ching
Scott French: Brian Ching
Ives Galarcep: Brian Ching
Allen Hopkins: Brian Ching
Doug McIntyre: Luciano Emilio
Rob Stone: Brian Ching
Jaime Trecker: Matt Reis
Jerry Trecker: Matt Reis
Pat Walsh: Luciano Emilio

In-market reporters
Chicago
Luis Arroyave: Brian Ching
Columbus
Shawn Mitchell: Brian Ching
Dallas/Fort Worth
Steve Davis: Luciano Emilio
Tobias Xavier Lopez: Matt Reis
Houston
Bernardo Fallas: Dwayne DeRosario
Kansas City
Bob Luder: Brian Ching
Los Angeles
Andrea Canales: Juan Pablo Angel
Joseph D’Hippolito: Kevin Hartman
New England (Boston)
Kyle McCarthy: Luciano Emilio
New York
Frank Giase: Brian Ching
Michael Lewis: Brian Ching
Salt Lake
James Edward: Kevin Hartman
Michael C. Lewis: Luciano Emilio
San Jose
Elliott Almond: Brian Ching
Ann Killion: Brian Ching
Toronto
Larry Milson: Brian Ching
Washington D.C.
John Haydon: Luciano Emilio
Craig Stouffer: Luciano Emilio

And now for something completely different...
An essay from two fans who were able to accompany the Dynamo on their trip to the White House. To see the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington, our first president, which was saved by Dolley Madison during the War of 1812, brought a huge lump to our throats. To walk the halls where Kennedy and Roosevelt walked and to know that they entered these same rooms in which we stood was awe-inspiring.

Let's REstart this season, yo.

It's a new season and the Dynamo begin yet another "title defense" with its ceremonial Disappointing Performance. Time to shred the season tickets my friends. The season is over. No MLS Cup Championship. No tournament trophies. Our defense can't keep a Twellman-less Revs to fewer than 3 goals, or a J-League Osaka to fewer than 6. That's it man, game over man, game over! Maybe we could build a fire, sing a couple of songs, huh?

Or not.

It's hard to take any underlying truth from yesterday's game. Despite having the better, more challenging pre-season schedule, the Dynamo looked to have no chemistry for most of yesterday's match. The first half saw little rhythm, plenty of disorganized defending, and absolutely no offensive production. Great free kick by DeRo in the closing moments though.

The second half saw better play, but little in the way of solid opportunities. Much of our success might be due to switching to a 3-5-2 late in the first half. Though the half saw improved play, our defending was still shaky and we turned the ball over too often. And we had only 3 shots on goal to the Revs' 13. Sheesh.

The only thing we can definitely take away from this game is that none of this means anything except that the parity of the MLS means any team -- even so-called top-tier teams -- can and will lose. (Did you see DC United's loss today? They're still one of the most talented teams despite losing to KC 2-0. Did you see the sexy LA Beckhams lose? Broke your heart, I'm sure.) Sure, we've got to do better. And you know what? We will. Yes we need to get better rhythm in the midfield. Yes we need to get more creative up front. And, yes, we desperately need to get better organized in the back -- for the love of all that is holey (holey like your back line was yesterday), help out your GK, guys!

Besides the blithe "one loss isn't that bad," is there anything good that came out of the game?

Why, yes...
Dom is disappointed and will likely work on solutions. "We deserved to get beat tonight," he admits. E-Rob, the heart of our defense, is also not a happy soul; and he will work on the locker room solutions, no doubt.

Stuart Holden looked sharp for the most part, I thought. DeRo didn't command the game, but was dangerous. Ching didn't get hurt.

The ref was incompetent enough that we can complain about someone other than our defenders. How was Stuart's tackle, the one that resulted in Steve Ralston's departure, a foul by Stuart? I believe that call lost us the game right there. Or something.

Pat Onstad made some outstanding saves, including the two shots that rebounded to our defense. But wait! Where's our defense? It doesn't look like they're interested in getting to the rebounds? What are those blue shirts doing getting to the rebounds first? That is OUR penalty box, right? Aaaand, there's two goals right there. Game, set, match. Thanks, defenders. Oh, sorry, this is supposed to be the list of good things, which is that Pat did well and...uh...LA lost 4-0. Word.

Another good thing: Dick's Sporting Goods had an amusing commercial. Nonetheless, it'll be overplayed by next weekend, I'm sure.

There's no reason the pain should linger. The best way to move on from this loss is to win versus Saprissa at Robertson on Wednesday. We must win that one before we head to Costa Rica for the second leg. Also, and this is important: we host the vile FC Dallas in between the two CONCACAF matches, and we simply canNOT allow them to get their first ever win -- or even a draw -- in Houston. And that is the gospel truth, y'all.

Another Year with the Silver Ball!

Another perfect ending to the season: Dynamo Houston crowned MLS Cup Champions again. (Game recap.) Another year with the silver ball and scudetto, only this time we do it with a star over our shield.

As a Legend In My Own Mind, I correctly "predicted" it'd be a 2-1 victory with us either (1) going ahead 2-0 then conceding a late goal to halve the lead or (2) going down 1 goal then replying with 2 unanswered. Of course this was no true prediction, it was merely a wild guess, and I would gladly have been wrong as long as the Dynamo carried the day. Regardless, by following the above option #2, the Dynamo created a better storyline and further entrenched themselves as the never-say-die team of the MLS.

The first half was fairly even, I thought, with the Dynamo unable to capitalize on their opportunities. I'd say the run of play was tilted a bit in New England's favor, a fact that was highlighted by the 0-1 halftime scoreline. The second half (thanks in part to a switch to 3-5-2) saw the field tilt to favor the orange, leading to Ngwenya's "determination goal" and DeRo's excellent rocket of a header. In the final 10 minutes we resorted to withstanding the spirited barrage from the desperate New England side. The highlight here was Onstad's reaction save of Jeff Larentowicz's point blank header around the 86th minute.

Okay, time to correct the history books: it wasn't the switch to a 3-5-2 that turned the tide tonight, nor was it individual brilliance on the part of the players. No, it was me subbing out my untried lucky shirt and bringing on a veteran to seal the deal. It was about the 60th minute when I did this, and our fortunes changed immediately thereafter.

No, I'm not forsaking the rookie shirt. It'll get its chance again next season. But sometimes you need experience in a big game. The rookie shirt may get there someday.

Overall, it was a very even contest -- just looking at the stats will confirm that. This is to be expected with these two teams that are both forged on consistency and teamwork. The only real differences between the two is (1) the Dynamo, while playing a 4-4-2 (compared to the Revs' 3-5-2), are more attack minded in general, and (2) the Dynamo individually seem to step up in the big games.

As close as the game was, it was a deserved win for the Dynamo. Khano Smith should have been sent off. Zidane's head butt was fiercer, but was to the chest. Smith's was to the face -- and in front of the ref no less! He should've been sent off for being stupid if nothing else. (Or maybe incessant diving?) Also, I felt that Jaqua was indeed fouled in the box around the 15th minute. Had it been anywhere else on the field, it'd been free kick Dynamo. Perhaps the referee thought it was too early to make a game-changing decision like awarding a PK -- okay, this line of reasoning from commentators always confused me. When a call is justified, the referee isn't the one making a game-changing decision; the fouling player had made the game-changing decision with his foul.

(On the reffing topic: Alex Prus, the center ref, is not one of the four full time professional MLS referees. Why wouldn't the MLS pull from this corps for the championship game? Do they feel these aren't really the best of the crop? I guess Jair Marrufo didn't impress with his reffing of the Dynamo-Wizards playoff game.)

It's great seeing the Dynamo on the awards platform. The guys sure looked happy (and exhausted), with even the most stolid players breaking out in wide grins. And Don Garber, after missing the Western Conference Championship, was present for the award.

Was it me, or did Don Garber seem a bit unenthused to be awarding the trophy to the Dynamo? Was he sad for his buddy, Sunil Gulati, who still is the President of Kraft Soccer for the New England Revolution, while also being the president of the United States Soccer Federation? The potential conflict of interest has been noted by many, but the MLS is still a small cabal of insiders. That's one great thing about the new teams and new ownership: it's bringing new blood into what can be perceived as an inbred family.

Enough cynicism from me.

I saw the news reports on Channel 2, Channel 11, and Fox-26. All good, and all positive, and all with the Dynamo victory as the lead item. There were some flubs -- like Matt Musil reporting that Ngwenya's goal came via a feed from Ching, but he knew Ching was on the bench and even wrote as much in his blog. Still, he cared enough to attend the match on a day when the Texans were playing, and for that he gets my respect -- even if he gets free kicks confused with penalty kicks.

Anyone know why the team refers to the "voice of the Dynamo" Steve Mark as "Screech"? They did so on the 790 postgame report.

With the Cup in the books, now Coach Kinnear needs to settle on his protected lineup and hope we don't lose anyone too vital to San Jose in next week's expansion draft. Then Dom is apparently going to Britain and Spain to reconnoiter. Then we have to prepare for the CONCACAF Champions Cup in February (and onward, hopefully), and also the Pan Pacific Cup in February. We'll be exhausted by time the season starts and will, thankfully, have a while before we have to worry about the US Open Cup and the SuperLiga. Here's hoping that our League schedule is kind, given the extracurricular competitions in which we'll be expending our energy.

But that can wait. Before worrying about the future, let's celebrate this season at the Houston City Hall on Tuesday at 5:30.

How about this Hot News?...
Hot news: Fox Soccer has as one of its top news items the breaking story that Beckham says he wants to play in the World Cup in 2010. This is indeed breathtaking insight. Unreported is news as to whether any Americans want to play in the World Cup at this time; however, it has been rumored that both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning say they want to play in the Superbowl at the end of the season. The Houston Astros say they want to win the World Series next season. The Houston Dynamo haven't said, but are presumed to want to win the MLS Cup next year. Off the record, I believe that there are a few players on the Revolution, DC United, RBNY, Chivas USA, KC Wizards, FC Dallas, [insert your favorite MLS team name here]..., and FC Toronto who also want to win the MLS Cup next season. If I can confirm this, I'll be sure to let everyone know. (Well lookie there: I did have some more cynicism in me.)

Go Dynamo! Back 2 back champions!

MLS Cup: 1 Day 2 Go

The official game guide for the MLS Cup is up. Interesting tidbit: "Dynamo have yet to defeat the Revolution when full-time has been reached since the club's arrival in south Texas. In the four league meetings all-time, the teams have played to three draws (including a pair of 1-1 draws in 2006) with one win for the Revolution, and the teams ended last year's final tied after 120 minutes before Houston claimed the Alan I. Rothenberg Trophy on penalty kicks."

Yahoo Sports mentions Dom's off-season plans. "...His mind will not switch off from soccer when the season ends. He has already scheduled a soccer development trip to Spain to visit Real Madrid and spend more time in Britain." Don't know what will come of the trip, but I like the idea that the wheels keep a-turnin'. I'm not sure what I would consider the greatest need for the team next year. I don't think we could improve much (or couldn't afford to improve much) on: GK, at least 2 of our backline, D-Mid, A-Mid, wingers (which includes 3 people now with Holden ascendance), and Ching. Perhaps another high profile striker? Not much else needing improvement or worth spending a lot of money on. Things may be clarified a bit over the off-season as we are bound to lose someone to the San Jose expansion draft, if nowhere else. What matters is that we currently we have the personnel to win the MLS Cup.

As for the Cup, USSoccerPlayers.com has its take on the coaches (Kinnear and Nicol, y'all) and the wingers (Mullan & Davis vs Smith & Thompson).

Tino Palace at MLSnet actually hopes NE will win the Cup. Maybe he just wants the Revs to win it so they'll stop going to the final. Steve Davis, the Dallas-area journalist for MLSnet, says it's too close to call.

First Greg Lalas, and now another SI writer thinks New England is going to win.

Jeff Carlisle of ESPN says it'll be Houston.

So does Goal.com.

Is there a "formula for success" for getting to the Cup? Hey, is that Twellman who's saying nice things about the Dynamo? Stop it. I don't want to like you.

For the record, DeRo's post-goal strut is called a "the shake and bake." I was one guilty of calling it the "funky chicken." "Shake and bake" sounds too much like Talladega Nights...but I guess "funky chicken" doesn't ring of elegance either. Ah, well; what's in a name? I like the funky strut and hope to see it more than once tomorrow. Heck, how about a beaver trick?!

My Take
The teams are too close to make a failsafe prediction, and not being able to foresee the future, I have to rely on the past to predict future results. Thus, Houston 2-1 in regulation. Our defense is just too good, and the only real question mark is how our finishing will be on the day. I will assume it will be better than usual because the squad knows this is it, and their experience from SuperLiga and the CONCACAF Champions Cup will carry them through the big game. Houston gets the goal it needs, forcing New England to open up, and we get another. We can't withstand the relentless pressure and do concede one goal.

I think it'd be more dramatic if we go down 0-1 then come back 2-1. If the lads want to do that, that's fine with me. Just carry the plot out to its happy resolution.

Other MLS news:
Cuauhtémoc Blanco's sweet left-footed volley from Week 20 won Goal of the Year. It was a good goal, but I think Ngwenya's was the better goal, and a better representative of what we want other leagues to think of when they think of our players' offensive prowess. Ngwenya can be consoled that his teammates Robinson and Onstad also got screwed out of deserving awards. I think at least one of the two (E-Rob or Pat-O) should have one, given our record-setting defense this season.

3 days to the MLS Cup

Pep rally at Gallery Furniture tonight, 5:00 to 6:30. No players will be there (which begs the question: who will benefit from the peppiness?) but there will be free t-shirts.

USSoccerPlayers.com is doing a series on the MLS Cup. Yesterday it was Jaqua vs Heaps. Today it's Twellman vs Robinson. More to come, I presume.

Jaime Trecker, perennial critic of the MLS, has an article focusing on New England. He slips up a few times and reveals some compliments about Dynamo-Houston. He mentions that the Dynamo deserved last year's victory, notes that Houston is one of the teams with a large following, and says the Dynamo have "one of the most explosive attacks in American soccer." That is all effusive praise coming from the curmudgeonly Trecker.

The blog, Climbing the Ladder, has a pre-MLS Cup quiz where you get to voice your opinions.

Goal.com compares Boston and Houston. Boston (the city) edges Houston (the city), BTW.

Did you know that Nate Jaqua's dad played for the Washington Redskins in RFK, the site of this year's MLS Cup? I didn't.

MLS Cup - Newsclippings

An essay on the similarities and differences of the Cup contenders, Dynamo-Houston and the New England Revolution.

Here's an article discussing the philosophies behind the two teams. It has some opinion about the benevolence of Jair Marrufo when dealing with Nate Jaqua's foul on Jewsbury.

This piece by Greg Lalas in Sports Illustrated has more on the philosophies going head-to-head in this "mouth watering" match. So, we're the artists who play with heart, and we're facing the technicians who play methodically? I can handle that. Right brain vs left brain. Dionysus vs Apollo. Brazil vs Germany. (Okay, that last one might be a stretch.) I like the concept behind the article, and I even agree with it to a good extent, although the dichotomy is probably a bit more subtle than the metaphors suggest.

Like the previous article, the SI article concludes with criticism for Jaqua not receiving a red. Greg Lalas (brother to Alexi) even beseeches the Powers That Be to suspend Jaqua from the final, kind of like they did to excess with Clark, you know? If they could successfully plunder the Dynamo's squad by getting both Jaqua and Clark out, and add to that Ching's injury, we'd have ourselves a right boring contest for the League's marquee game. But that's okay because maybe Sunil Gulati's team would win.

Not surprisingly, current Rev Jay Heaps agrees with former Rev Greg Lalas. Heaps said, "Jaqua shouldn't be playing in the final. That was not just an elbow, he followed through with it." It's one thing for columnists to lobby for a suspension, but a player? That's poor sportsmanship at best.

And as the Revs lobby for the Dynamo squad to be depleted, I've got to wonder: Shouldn't they at least pretend to want to settle it on the field? Their best versus our best?

Killing their way to another MLS Cup

Yet again, the New England Revolution will grace the MLS Cup with their special brand of anti-soccer. Beating the Chicago Fire with an acrobatic chileno from Taylor Twellman, all the more impressive because he had two defenders pressing him hard, the Revs are in their third straight MLS Cup match.

Raise your hand if you thought "That's it: the only goal we'll see in this match" after Twellman scored. It's difficult to type with one hand in the air, but I'm a trooper.

The Revs were aided by an ineffective Wanchope who appeared able to take any half-chance and turn it into a no chance. I think Osorio was too late in inserting Carr --Wanchope looked like he would never score. I'm not a big fan of Blanco, but he has to be irritated with his quality passes being wasted by Barrett and Wanchope. Rolfe had some good shots from distance, but nothing that panned out. I think his battered body will do well with an off-season of rest.

Credit should go to the Revs ability to defend -- some would say "kill a game" -- and protect their lead. Shalrie Joseph, Michael Parkhurst, and Matt Reis are some of the best at this.

We're halfway to a rematch of last year's MLS Cup -- a match-up that most of the US soccer community is dreading. The only thing worse than a Dynamo-Rev match-up would be a Wizards-Rev match-up. Let's hope that the latter doesn't come to pass.

And given the success of Boston in football (with the Pats winning the Superbowl and undefeated so far this season) and baseball (with the Red Sox -- the new New York Yankees some would say -- sweeping the World Series), the Revs seem destined to win the MLS Cup. That would give them the domestic double, them having already won the US Open Cup.

However, if there is a pantheon of gods that governs soccer, the Revs will not be rewarded with a win, and either KC or the Dynamo will take the silver ball. I think Lark Howorth said it as well as anybody: "...the skillful cynicism Nicol brings to the playoffs, especially with the talent he has, frankly has met its just end in all his three MLS Cup finals. I'm so glad we've got a Dynamo team to support that's more interested in winning playoff games via scoring goals, rather than locking down opponents in tactical stalemates."

Word.

I haven't always been a Revs hater, by the way. In fact, I had been impressed with the quality of their individual talent over the years. But seeing them play in person at Robertson over the past two years made me realize that this is a team that hurts the sport. In both instances (2006 and this year), the Dynamo played open, possession-style soccer against a prosaic, cynical opponent that had prostituted its game. Last year's match ended 1-1 and this year's 0-1. Credit the Revs for earning 4 out of 6 points in 2006 and 2007; but they also earned my spite for squashing the creativity from either team and for confirming the haters' stereotype of soccer being boring and banal.

Since I've turned this piece into a bit of a Revs-bashing, I guess I'll continue.

How about Michael Parkhurst as the MLS Defender of the Year? He is a talented defender to be sure, and did you know that he only garnered 5 yellow cards and no red cards all year? Isn't that amazing? It must be: it's mentioned in nearly every article about the young defender.

Is it right that he beat out a player (E-Rob) on a team that conceded 20 fewer goals than his team and another player (Claudi Suarez) on a team that conceded 15 fewer? And Suarez playes for Chivas USA, which conceded fewer goals while also playing an open, attacking style of play. Parkhurst was at the core of a defense that allowed 9 more than even lowly Colorado -- and that's with a keeper as good as Reis in the nets behind him (and a defensive style of play ingrained by Coach Nichol). Maybe Parkhurst should have fouled more.

Despite the stats, Parkhurst is indeed a good defender, and I can't say that the award is an abomination. It's not like giving Eddie Johnson the Comeback Player of the Year award or anything. (What exactly did Eddie comeback from? Underachievement? And does half a good season constitute a comeback?) But I think it says a lot about the MLS when "feel good stories" win out over performance; and the Dynamo's record-setting defense -- which smashed the previous 29 goal record by conceding only 23 goals -- doesn't win a single award. Onstad in particular was slighted.

As for Parkhurst's only goal (and only shot) of his career -- his 60-yard shot versus Toronto this year -- being up for Goal of the Year: it's interesting how the MLS got this into the running despite the fact that it wasn't selected as the best goal even in the week it occurred. (Granted, that's probably due to the votes of overzealous Toronto fans voting for Dichio the same week.) The goal is certainly impressive due to its rarity (haven't seen one since Dwayne DeRosario's shot versus Chicago and Zach Thornton last year), and Lord knows the fans love goals from really, really, really far away (with bicycle kicks right up there). I can't argue that both types of goals aren't impressive, but Parkhurst's feat has the air of luck and coincidence about it. I think a better GOTY would be one that demonstrates intentional skill.

Joseph Ngwenya's doesn't have the "gee-whiz" factor that surrounds a fortuitous strike; however, it does impress due to its focused application of skill. In fact, it is the type of feat that proves that we have skillful players here in the MLS. I think that is what the MLS should emphasize and laud: skill. It seems that we should want the world to know that we are a league of talented players, rather than knowing us as a league that has some lucky blokes every now and then -- because everyone has blind luck from time to time.

When you get a chance, vote for GOTY.

The Shutout Record Concludes

Our shutout record ends at 726 minutes and 7 games, but our unbeaten streak continues at 11 games. I'm glad we set the record, but hopefully now we can focus on the more important record: our winning record.

The winning column won't be augmented after today's match, despite our 3 goals. It seems 3 goals isn't enough versus Revs+Kevin Stott. Kevin Stott is a new prospect the Revs were trying out. He wore red in this match while the Revs wore their traditional blue.

There is something about Steve Nicol's soccer philosophy that I find to be absolutely pedantic and even negative. With such a bevy of talent at his disposal and though playing at home, this product of Scotland still has his team hold back and play the counter. With a 3-5-2 I would expect better domination of the midfield and a more attacking poise. Instead, I thought NE looked to be the inferior team, just as when they beat us here in Houston at the beginning of the season.

(As an aside, isn't Mo Johnston also Scottish? Why are these two unimaginative MLS coaches diametrically opposed to the philosophy held by other Scotsmen on the field and on the sidelines? Dominic Kinnear is a great MLS coach with a positive style of play, and Sir Alex Ferguson is great by most any standard.)

That's not to say that the Revs didn't look dangerous. In the first half, the Dynamo (despite being on the road) took an aggressive stance in the hope of attaining victory. We controlled possession and we pushed forward, and had several forays into the penalty box, albeit with few actual shots on goal. This aggressive stance left us vulnerable at times and, but for bad finishing by the Revs and solid goalkeeping by Onstad, we could have easily been down a goal due to New England's effective Route 1 tactics.

An excellent finish by Noonan (after poor defending and wasteful begging for a foul by Robinson) ended our shutout streak. New England gained some confidence from this and attempted to pass a little at times, but still relied on the counter, and there were often more than the "3" of the 3-5-2 clogging up their box. Hey, if you're going to play a 4-4-2 or 5-4-1, call it what it is at least.

D-Ro helped turn things around with his GOTW candidate from out of the blue in the second half. He found his space between the midfield and the back line, and a little space is all he needs to make game-changing plays. But moments later Cochrane drifts away from Twellman in our box, and Twellman (the pouty Dan Marino of the MLS) can usually tuck away freebies when he's not in a USMNT uniform.

Ngwenya looked the most dangerous Dynamo most of the match. He had the ball in the box on numerous occasions. I bet he had few actual shots on goal, but he got off several passes through the legs of defenders in the box, but the passes unfortunately missed their targets. He found Ching around the 60th minute to tie us up again. And Ching gets his 2nd and our 3rd just a minute later.

Enter Kevin Stott. I've got to say that the handball call against D-Ro was dodgy at best. The ball hit D-Ro in the chest, and it's questionable whether it actually hit his arm, but if it DID hit his arm, it was incidental and did not merit a PK. Great save by Onstad on the kick, and yes there was definite encroachment by our players. Technically, that is against the LOTG, so it's hard to argue the decision to take the kick again (bogus as the PK award was in the first place), but the fact is that there was no rebound for our encroaching players to intercept, so we gained no advantage from the encroachment, thus a re-kick is just a typical "letter of the law versus spirit of the law" situation. Unfortunately, Kevin Stott's spirit and decision-making was all sided against the Dynamo.

This is the first time we've given up more than 2 goals this season (not counting the 5 versus Pachuca in the second half of the aggregate CONCACAF Champions' Cup series with them). Last season, we only allowed two teams to score 3 on us: FC Dallas (we won 4-3 on May 6) and Colorado (a 3-3 draw on October 14). That's a testament to our defense. Obviously, we've never lost when we've scored 3 or more goals, but oddly, we've also never lost a MLS match when our opponent has scored more than 2 goals. Let's not test that record.

As for this past game: We have to be content with the fact that we got a point on the road and that we played the more exciting and imaginative soccer, and we did so we our wings clipped (Jaqua started on one wing, and Holden had his second sub-par game in a row, though it wasn't necessarily a poor performance). In fact, we tend to display more exciting and positive play than more than most of our MLS opponents ... even when we're on the road.

Now we take a nearly 2-week break from MLS play as we gear up for the inaugural SuperLiga. It would do credit to the club to do well versus our Mexican opponents (and DC as well), but we must guard against allowing our efforts versus international opponents to affect our domestic play, like we saw after the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

It's a Sophomore Slump

The slump continues. I'm disappointed with the results, but I really have little to quibble about regarding the quality of the team's play. Versus Chicago and TFC we played well enough to win, but lost; tonight we played even better than in those games, and we lost.

Our losses:
RBNY: 1-0
Chicago: 1-0
Toronto: 1-0
New England: 1-0

The key stat in all those instances: 0 goals for the good guys. And of these games, the RBNY game was the only one where we looked outclassed, and that was against a 10-man team.

Still, tonight's loss to the Revs is even more disappointing. Everyone talks about how we dominated possession, and we did, but that's not always a telling stat and can be deceptive based on the type of game being played by the opposition. Tonight, in addition to possession, we saw bucketloads of other things that hearken to a great team:

• Creative passing, takeovers, and combination play
  
• Changing the pattern of play & tempo
• Going through the midfield and working the short passes and also by-passing the midfield with the long ball
• Great free kicks by Davis
• Vertical and diagonal runs with and without the ball
• Ching headers in the box
  
• Contributions from the bench (particularly Ashe)
• Keeping the other team out of the penalty box
• Solid work rate from the team with a sense of urgency
  

Tonight I believe the loss is truly a factor of bad luck, bad juju, or the wrath of the gods. Perhaps it's just a test of our resolve as fans and our team's endurance. Whatever it was, the loss was not a factor of bad soccer.

The lack of finishing still buzzed around us, but we created the threats and had the shots -- some poor, yes, but others of complete quality. Ching had some good headers, and Clark had an excellent chip of the GK after a nice passing combo with Ching (and flick by Ngwenya) in the 67th and made a shot from distance in the 79th that barely went astray, Davis had a precise bending free kick that couldn't beat Reis, Ashe had 3 great crosses (two on the carpet, one in the air) in his short tenure, and Mullan has a dangerous cutback pass in the 93rd that caroms wildly in front of the goal before landing at the feet of a Rev defender (natch).

Ngwenya continues to be a threat, but can he score? He worked better with the mids tonight, but still seems out of synch with Ching.

I thought subbing in Ashe and Holden was a great move. Ashe did outstanding on the attack, less so defending, but that wasn't a worry since the Revs had gone to 11-man defending since before Ashe walked on the field. Holden provided some good service and might've tallied a goal in the 90th had his first touch been better when the rock fell to him at the top of the box. I question Dom taking out Ngwenya if only because we didn't insert any true forwards in replacement at a time when we were jonesing for some goals. Subbing Gray for DDR was out of necessity, I believe, due to DeRo's hamstring; but it further hampered our attack at a time when we needed creative attacking the most. Luckily, Ashe's energy on the left seemed to fill the void DDR's absence created in the middle -- but not enough to change the result.

The team is getting frustrated. Indeed, Ching and DeRo both received needless Yellows because of their emotional outbursts born of frustration. Frustration is understandable and may be a good thing if it turns into determination; but if it leads to exasperation, then the team could start playing tight and disjointed, which won't make goals come any faster.

So, how can Dynamo Houston break this curse? They could seek guidance from the infallible Internet, where you can find all sorts of wisdom. Or they can continue doing what they're doing for two-thirds of the field, while concentrating on improving their play and expanding their tactical repertoire in the final third. They also need to continue getting Ngwenya (or the healed Dalglish) incorporated into the coordinated attack better, or Nqwenya/Daggers need to do better on their own when the chances fall to them.

Final thoughts:

• The new grass looked horribly patchy, and sand flew up all over the field. I hope the pitch improves before the next home game.
• I like the all-orange kit. I'm surprised the team hasn't worn it before, since they have both pieces (the home jersey and the away shorts) already in their gearbox.
• Kudos to the 18,000+ who showed up to root for the home team. The supporters sounded great. I think that we need to stop booing (like the crowd did at the end of the first half), because it sounds like we're booing our team. I would guess that everyone was booing the officiating at the end of the half, but I'm not sure. Also, I think we need to learn a chant or cheer or song to ring out in support of the good guys whenever the opposition scores. We can't boo when the other team scores because booing, again, sounds like we're condemning our team's performance, but silence is exactly what the other team wants to make us do. We instead need to voice something that rejects the visitor's smugness and inspires Dynamo Houston. Just a thought.
• Both Coach Nichol and Matt Reis acknowledged that Dynamo Houston played the better soccer, and they both acknowledged they were lucky to have the 3 points. That's no consolation of course. I noticed in his interview that Reis was drinking from a Red Bull water bottle. I think the Rev supporters should pitch in and buy him a bottle that doesn't promote one of their Eastern Conference rivals. Or maybe they could buy him a bottle with a DC United emblem on it.

Don't worry Dynamo fans: this, too, shall pass.

Revs in town; Time to turn this ship around.

Taylor Twellman and the Revs come to H-town to avenge their loss to Dynamo Houston in last year's MLS Cup. They look poised to do so, with a productive attack that has scored a league high 14 goals in 7 games and two scorers in the league top 10: Twellman who leads the league with 6 goals and Andy Dorman who is sixth in the league with 3 goals. On top of that, they have Steve Ralston, who has a goal himself and an assist on the other 6 goals for the team. Playing with three backs, the team has a goals-against average of just a goal a game.

Houston on the other hand has a struggling attack, with the entire team racking up a total of 4 goals, tied with Columbus and Toronto for last place. We've been shut out in 4 of our 6 games, and have only two goal scorers. On the plus side, our defense has allowed only 4 goals, for a .67 average per game.

Despite the stats and the standings, both teams are well coached, stocked with talent, and very capable. If the Revs play a true 3-5-2, we should have less trouble in the attacking third (our usual region of weakness), but we might have more difficulty with the build up in the middle (one of our stronger areas). If the Revs score first, I'll wager we lose the game and are probably shut out a 5th time for the season as the visitors bunker in and rely on only the counter. If we manage to score first, I bet the goals come in bunches -- perhaps for both sides -- and we win in the end.

Ngwenya finds his finishing touch tonight hopefully. His last game was disappointingly reminiscent of Ale Moreno's finishing, but his pace did give us a new aspect on the attack. Hopefully he settles in and gels with the rest of our attack, while finishing off the opportunities he creates on his own. I also hope that DDR relaxes, only then will he regain the form that is powered by mojo, Wu Wei, the Force, or whatever term you prefer.

To be candid, I'm no Twellman fan. He has talent, no doubt, but strikes me as the Dan Marino of the MLS: talented, arrogant, whiny when things don't go his way, and (so far) unsuccessful winning championships. I hope Twellman is shut out tonight by Onstad & Crew.

For the second home game in a row, I won't make it to the Rob. I'll be attending my son's guitar performance, so I'll have to watch the taped match with the echoes of "Smoke on the Water" and "Louie, Louie" still echoing in my head. I hope the crowd looks spirited and shows the TFC fans that we're still tops in the league, while the Dynamo does the same on the field. Go Orange.