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MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo Game Notes -- March 23 at Seattle Sounders

March 21, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders FC

Friday, 23 March 2012 - 9 p.m. CT

MLS regular season - Game #3

CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Wash.

Broadcast Information Dynamo Media Contacts (@HoustonDynamo.com)

TV: NBC Sports Network Lester Gretsch (lgretsch@ 832-633-0632)

Radio: KPRC 950 AM (English), La Ranchera 850 AM (Spanish)

Dynamo vs. Seattle sounders fc - houston tries for third straight road win

The Houston Dynamo and Seattle Sounders meet at CenturyLink Field on Friday night as The Orange continue its seven-game season-opening road trip. The Dynamo are off to their best start in club history after sweeping California with a pair of wins in their first two road games - 1-0 victories over Chivas USA and San Jose Earthquakes, respectively. Saturday's triumph over San Jose at AT&T Park was earned through a 14th-minute penalty goal from Brad Davis after Brian Ching was taken down in the box by Quakes goalkeeper Jon Busch. With the win, Houston matched its win total from 2011 (two). After going 15 games on the road without a win to start 2011 (0-6-9), the Dynamo have won four consecutive regular season road games beginning with a 1-0 win at FC Dallas on 9/24/11. All four road wins have included a clean sheet for the visitors. Seattle has had a busy start to 2012, first being knocked out of CONCACAF Champions League by Santos before securing a 3-1 MLS season-opening win over Toronto FC behind David Estrada's hat trick, the third-ever in club history, in front of a home-opening-record 38,709 supporters. Since the Sounders joined MLS in 2009, Houston and Seattle have been even on the pitch, with each club winning two matches, along with two draws, in six regular season meetings (each club has 8 GF and 8 GA as well). Houston and Seattle drew 1-1 at Qwest Field on March 25, 2011, with Geoff Cameron giving Houston a 42nd-minute lead before Steve Zakuani equalized in the 80th. Seattle rode a nine-match MLS unbeaten streak into Robertson Stadium on July 30, 2011 before the Dynamo earned a 3-1 win behind a Ching brace (23', 71') and Colin Clark goal (7'). Alvaro Fernandez provided a penalty goal on 36 minutes for Seattle. In their lone postseason encounter, the Dynamo ousted the Sounders 1-0 in extra-time at Robertson Stadium on Nov. 8, 2009 on Brian Ching's volley winner.

Dynamo Notes

Houston has won four straight regular season road games, all via clean sheet. Including playoffs, the Dynamo have won 6 of 7 on the road, with the 1-0 loss to LA Galaxy in MLS Cup the only road defeat.

The Dynamo are the only Eastern Conference team to record a win over a Western Conference side. Outside of Houston's 2-0 record versus the West, the East is 0-9 in matches against the West. The West has enjoyed a home-field advantage, though, with 10 of the 11 inter-conference matches hosted by the West.

The Dynamo are unbeaten in their last 8 regular season games (6-0-2). Houston's last defeat was a 2-0 setback at Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 10, 2011.

If the Dynamo win in Seattle on Friday, they will match a franchise record with three consecutive road wins within one season. In 2007, Houston won three straight road games - at Los Angeles Galaxy, 3-1, on 9/17/11; at FC Dallas, 3-0, on 9/30; and at Real Salt Lake, 1-0, on 10/15 - over the span of four overall games. The Dynamo earned a 1-0 draw at Chivas USA in the season finale to finish the year unbeaten in their final four road games.

First Road Win of 2012: Houston's 1-0 win over Chivas USA erased bad memories of the 2011 road schedule. Amazingly, it took Houston 16 games to record its first road win of the 2011 campaign. After a 0-6-9 start, the Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 1-0 at Pizza Hut Park on September 24 on Geoff Cameron's goal in the 87th minute. The win started a road-roll for the Dynamo, which won its final two games (at Portland and Philadelphia) of the regular season before winning two road playoff games (Philadelphia and Sporting KC). That stretch included a 7-1 record against Western Conference teams. Houston went 9-6-4 in 2011 against its former conference.

Andre Hainault is enjoying a goal-scoring streak that defies logic given his scoring record. Hainault scored 3 goals in the first 88 games of his Dynamo career (all competitions). With his winner at Chivas USA on March 11, the Montreal-native has scored 4 goals in his last 8 games (10/14/11 @ Portland, 10/30/11 @ Philadelphia, 11/6/11 @ Sporting Kansas City, and March 11 @ Chivas.)

Clean Sheets: The Dynamo have earned four clean sheets in their last five games, playoffs included (11/3/11, 1-0 vs. PHI; 11/6/11, 2-0 @ SKC; 3/11/12, 1-0 @ CHV, and 3/17/12, 1-0 @ SJ).

More Clean Sheets: If the Dynamo shutout Seattle on Friday, it would mark the first time they record three consecutive shutouts since 5/30-6/10/09, when they earned three wins versus Toronto, Chicago and Chivas USA.

Scoreless Streak: The Dynamo have a long way to go to approach their club and MLS record for minutes without allowing a goal. The 2007 championship club set a MLS record by playing 727 minutes without allowing a goal. The streak started on 6/10/07 in a 2-1 win vs. Columbus and included eight shutouts before the streak ended in a 3-3 draw with New England on 7/22/11. Pat Onstad was in goal for 524 of the minutes, with Zach Wells keeping the streak alive with 180 minutes in net.

Jamaican friendly: Midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson and defender Jermaine Taylor joined the Jamaica national team for its Wednesday friendly with Costa Rica. They were scheduled to rejoin the Dynamo in Seattle on Thursday.

First: Houston recorded its first-ever opening day win on the road on March 11 at Chivas USA. It was also the Dynamo's first season-opening win since 2006 (home or road). More details in chart below.

Clutch: Hainault's game-winner two minutes into stoppage time at Chivas USA continued a run of late goals for Houston in 2011. Last year, the Dynamo scored 14 goals in the final 15 minutes of games, second best in MLS (Seattle).

Late Winners: Hainault's goal was the first Dynamo goal in extra time since Alex Dixon earned a vital 3-2 win over Real Salt Lake at Robertson Stadium on Aug. 20, 2011. Three days earlier, Bobby Boswell earned a 1-1 tie at New England with a 90th-minute equalizer.

Reserves: The Dynamo Reserves defeated Colorado Rapids 1-0 on March 13 at Houston Amateur Sports Park. Houston's chances were limited, but in the 80th minute rookie Brian Ownby pounced onto the rebound of Jermaine Taylor's shot and buried it for a 1-0 win. Tyler Deric earned the shutout in goal.

Sarkodie Call-Up: Dynamo defender Kofi Sarkodie was named to the final roster for the CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying tournament, which began on Thursday. Sarkodie was called into the U.S. men's training camp that began March 13 in Nashville.

Offseason additions: The Dynamo's offseason consisted mostly of moves to add depth to a core of returning starters. Houston acquired three players via draft (F-Colin Rolfe, D-Warren Creavalle and M-Brian Ownby), three via trade (D/M-Nathan Sturgis, F-Macoumba Kandji and F-Brian Ching), and one trialist signing (GK-Erich Marscheider).

Preseason: Forward Will Bruin led the Dynamo offense in the preseason with four goals, including the club's lone goal in four matches in the Disney Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando, a header goal versus Montreal. Brian Ownby (3) Colin Clark (2), Colin Rolfe (2) Nathan Sturgis (2) rounded out the Dynamo scoring leaders.

With construction continuing at BBVA Compass Stadium, the Dynamo's new downtown facility, the club is forced to begin its season with seven games on the road. After road games with Chivas USA, San Jose, Seattle, Chicago, Columbus, DC United and New York, Houston opens its new stadium against DC United on May 12.

Nearly six years after the club's first-ever match on April 2, 2006, only two players remain on the Dynamo roster: Brian Ching and Brad Davis. Defender Eddie Robinson retired in January and joined the front office as an assistant coach with the Youth Academy and a color analyst on TV broadcasts.

Up Next: long break before tax day visit to chicago

Friday's match with Seattle will end Houston's three-game West Coast road swing and signal the near mid-point of its seven-game road trip. The Dynamo will enjoy a two-weekend break (22 days between games- longest gap of season) before resuming MLS play on April 15 at Chicago, marking their first game with an Eastern Conference foe in 2012. Houston will continue to see Eastern Conference competition, with trips to Columbus (4/21), DC United (4/28) and New York (5/9) before the May 12 opening of BBVA Compass Stadium.

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP (4-4-2, Right-Left)

Tally Hall;

Andre Hainault, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Corey Ashe;

Colin Clark, Adam Moffat, Je-Vaughn Watson, Brad Davis;

Will Bruin, Brian Ching

Check out the Houston Dynamo FC Statistics



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