MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Dynamo host Chivas USA Wednesday night in clash of Western Conference leaders

Published on June 8, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON, TX (Monday, June 8, 2009) - The Houston Dynamo will host rival and Major League Soccer leader Chivas USA Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Robertson Stadium in a battle of the top two teams in the Western Conference.

The game can be seen on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes and can be heard on 790 The Sports Animal and 850 La Ranchera.

Houston and Chivas USA have been the top two teams in the Western Conference in each of the last two years, with Chivas USA finishing in first place in 2007 (although the Dynamo won the conference title) and the Dynamo finishing first last year. Chivas USA currently leads Houston by two games in the standings, but the Dynamo have two games in hand.

Houston enters the game on an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) and three-game win streak, while Chivas USA is coming off of a 1-0 win over third-place Seattle. The Dynamo are 4-0-3 against Chivas USA in their last seven meetings, dating back to the 2006 MLS Cup playoffs.

Houston (6-2-3, 21 points) has outscored opponents 12-2 in its last eight games, including 7-1 in the last three games. The Dynamo earned a key road win last Friday, edging Chicago 1-0 on a fourth-minute goal from Stuart Holden. Pat Onstad made two saves and Richard Mulrooney cleared a shot off the goal line as Houston recorded its sixth shutout of the year. Houston will face Chivas USA without midfielder Ricardo Clark, who was called up to the United States national team for the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, and forward Brian Ching, out with a hamstring injury.

Chivas USA (8-2-3, 27 points) jumped out to a 7-1-1 start but is 1-1-2 since, including a controversial 3-2 loss to the Chicago Fire on May 28. The game is a matchup of the league's best two defensive teams, as Chivas USA has allowed just nine goals this year and Houston has allowed only seven. Mexican forward Eduardo Lillingston leads the Chivas USA attack with five goals, and Brazilian midfielder Paulo Nagamura has scored four times. Chivas USA will be without Sacha Kljestan and Jonathan Bornstein, who are also with the U.S. national team.

After Wednesday's game, the Dynamo will travel to face FC Dallas on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. Houston will then return home to take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday, June 20, at Robertson Stadium at 7:30 p.m. That game will feature post-game fireworks.

The Houston Dynamo are a Major League Soccer franchise that has won two MLS Cup championships in its first three seasons and represented the United States in three consecutive regional championships. Currently on an eight-game unbeaten streak, the Dynamo will host Western Conference leader Chivas USA on Wednesday night at Robertson Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Be sure to ask about the new Texas Children's Health Plan Family Section. For more information, please log on to www.HoustonDynamo.com or call (713) 276-7500.

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