Houston — The Houston Dynamo have brushed off the heartbreaking last-minute loss against LA Galaxy and now are fully focused on their next rival – Columbus Crew SC — at 7:30 CT Saturday.
Both teams are coming off a loss. Columbus fell 1-0 to D.C. United. The Dynamo played against the Galaxy and held a steady 1-1 draw until the 88th minute, when a goal was scored in the Dynamo’s net – ending their winning streak and giving them their first loss of the season.
“We played well and we really looked good,” head coach Wilmer Cabrera said about the loss. “We created very good and clear options on goal, but perhaps it was there when we had one or two opportunities and should have made things simple we lacked to liquidate (the goal).”
As Cabrera pointed out it was a tough loss, especially because the Dynamo played well, but this bump on the road hasn’t stopped the team’s motivation.
“When one plays as a visitor, we usually have fewer options so we have to be more effective, we have to improve and we also have to get better on individual errors. The penalty was an individual error,” said Cabrera. “We shouldn’t have committed a penalty. It was obvious, and we had talked about avoiding this, but it left us a teaching and we are working to continue improving.”
Cabrera sees the positive aspects the team had on the pitch and added that, “at the same time it leaves us calm because when one plays well as we played, we understand that what we are doing is adequate and we can face any MLS team in their turf.”
The Dynamo sits in the fifth position in the Western conference with 13 points through six games played, the fewest of all teams in the conference. In comparison, leader Los Angeles FC has 22 points through nine games played.
As for their upcoming rival, Columbus also sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and with the same number of points, but with nine games played and two consecutives loss – something the Dynamo will try to play to their advantage without letting their guard down, knowing that Columbus is a dangerous team with talented players.
“They are a very good team. They are strong. They are in a very good shape. They haven’t received much goals,” Dynamo midfielder Juan David Cabezas said.“We have to take advantage on this opportunity that we are home to be able to get more confident and comfortable with the ball, we have to show good quality.”
When playing at home the Dynamo, have consistently shown dominance on their turf, and they intend to show their home advantage against the Crew at BBVA Stadium.
“Homes games are key for me, thinking of qualifying for the playoffs,” said Cabezas, who is slowly coming back from an injury.
So far, La Naranja has tied and won three games at home and are looking to bounce back into another winning streak Saturday.