MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo Game Notes - May 15 vs. Portland Timbers

Published on May 14, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


The Houston Dynamo (3-3-2; 11 points) will face the Portland Timbers (2-5-2; 8 points) on Tuesday in the first-ever night game at BBVA Compass Stadium in downtown Houston. The Dynamo opened their new home in grand fashion on Saturday, with original Dynamo player Brad Davis producing a sensational game winner in the 67th minute for a 1-0 win over D.C. United. Davis received a pass from Andre Hainault 35 yards from goal, took two touches to turn past Dwayne De Rosario, and then cracked a bending shot that made it past D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who could only get a hand on it before it hit the side of the net.

Tuesday's match with Portland is Houston's third in seven days and is part of a stretch of four games in 11 days that will end Saturday at New England. The Timbers are led by head coach John Spencer, who was Dominic Kinnear's assistant coach in Houston from 2006 to 2010 before taking over in Portland for its 2011 expansion season. Spencer led the Dynamo Reserves to a first place finish in 2008.

Houston vs. Portland: The Dynamo won both games against the expansion Timbers in 2011. In the first meeting, Aug. 14 at Robertson Stadium, Adam Moffat cracked a stunning 38-yard strike for the opening goal just three weeks after being traded by the Timbers. Ten minutes later, Brian Ching slotted home a feed from Brad Davis for the 2-0 lead. Jack Jewsbury brought Portland a goal closer with a header in the 56th minute, but Houston held on for the win. In the return game Oct. 14 at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland, Andre Hainault and Danny Cruz scored for the Dynamo in a key win that helped Houston's playoff position and left Portland with a tough road to the playoffs.

Moffat Trade: Last July, midfielder Adam Moffat was traded from Portland to Houston in exchange for defender Mike Chabala and midfielder Lovel Palmer. The trade appears useful for each club, as since the trade Moffat has appeared in 20 games for the Dynamo (19 starts), and tallied two goals and three assists. He also started all four 2011 playoff games. Palmer has appeared in 24 games (23 starts) with one assist and Chabala has appeared in 18 games (17 starts) with a goal and two assists for the Timbers.

Dynamo Notes

BBVA Compass Stadium opener: The Dynamo opened the 13th soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer on Saturday. On a gorgeous 82-degree day in front of a sellout crowd of 22,039, the Dynamo honored past legends, including Wade Barrett, Pat Onstad, Eddie Robinson and Craig Waibel in a pregame ceremony that included the unveiling of 2006 and 2007 MLS Cup championship banners.

Boswell Bicentennial: Bobby Bowell faced his former team D.C. United on Saturday for his 200th Major League Soccer appearance in his eight-year career. The central defender has been very consistent in his career, averaging 27.4 games per season and has played every minute of every match in 2012. Boswell has played at least 23 games in each season and has played full time in 18 consecutive matches dating to Sept. 14, 2011 at Columbus.

A Quarter Century to Remember: Brad Davis' sensational 30-yard strike against D.C. United on Saturday was his 25th goal in all competitions with the Dynamo. Davis is the third Dynamo player to reach 25 goals, joining Brian Ching (64) and Dwayne De Rosario (32). It was Davis' 37th MLS regular season goal.

D.C. Winless in Houston: With the 1-0 win over D.C. United, the Dynamo have never lost to the Red and Black in Houston. The Dynamo are 6-0-1 all-time against D.C. in Houston.

Offensive: The Dynamo outshot D.C. United 20-4 for their most shots in a game this season. Houston set a franchise record with 27 shots vs. New England on April 17, 2011 at Robertson Stadium.

Davis Milestone: Brad Davis started against D.C. United on Saturday for his 150th MLS regular season start with the Dynamo. Davis is the franchise leader in regular season starts.

175 for Ching: Brian Ching started on Saturday vs. United for his 175th appearance for the Dynamo in all competitions. He is the fourth Dynamo player to reach 175 (Brad Davis, Brian Mullan, Corey Ashe).

Cameron the Ironman: Geoff Cameron has started and played full time in 38 consecutive matches (playoffs included), the most among Houston field players. Cameron has played 3,396 consecutive minutes in MLS play (playoffs included), since he did not play on May 4, 2011 vs. Colorado. Goalkeeper Tally Hall leads all players with 42 consecutive starts. Brad Davis had a streak of 45 consecutive starts broken at Chicago on April 15 due to a left calf strain.

Lineup Shuffle in New York: Faced with the task of keeping players fresh at the start of a stretch of four games in 11 days, Dominic Kinnear made several changes to his lineup against New York. Calen Carr, Macoumba Kandji and Cam Weaver each made their first start of the season and regular starters Will Bruin, Brian Ching and Andre Hainault rested. Midfielder Alex Dixon also made his first appearance of the season as a second half substitute.

Boswell Milestone: Bobby Boswell's start at New York on Wednesday was his 150th Dynamo start in all competitions. He is the fifth Dynamo player to start 150 (Brad Davis, Pat Onstad, Brian Mullan, Brian Ching).

Corey Ashe made his 175th appearance for the Dynamo in all competitions at D.C. on April 28. He is the third Dynamo player to reach 175 appearances in all competitions (Brad Davis, Brian Mullan).

Brian Ching's start against D.C. United on April 28 was his 150th start in all competitions for Houston to become the fourth Dynamo player to make 150 starts (Brad Davis, Pat Onstad, Brian Mullan).

Will Bruin did not start at New York, but entered as a substitute in the second half for a chance to score in his fourth consecutive game. As the Dynamo were held scoreless, Bruin missed a chance to before the first-ever Dynamo player to score in four consecutive games. By scoring in the previous three games, Bruin marked the fifth time a Dynamo player has scored in three consecutive games (Bruin 2012, Ching 2006, 2008; Joseph Ngwenya 2007; Stuart Holden 2009).

A Hundred for Hainault: Andre Hainault made his 100th Dynamo appearance in all competitions on April 21 at Columbus, becoming the 15th player to reach 100 appearances in franchise history.

Adam Moffat turns 26: Tuesday is Dynamo midfielder Adam Moffat's 26th birthday.

The three goals allowed by the Dynamo on April 28 at D.C. United marked the first time Houston has allowed three goals in a game since Sept. 10, 2011, a 3-0 loss at Sporting Kansas City. The Dynamo went 15 games without allowing three goals in that stretch.

Possession: Despite playing their first seven games on the road, the Dynamo have won the possession battle in six of eight games on the season and had slim disadvantages in the others. Houston had a 56-44 % advantage vs. D.C., 53% possession at New York, 54% at D.C., a slim 49-51% disadvantage at Columbus, 55% at Chicago, 56% at Seattle, a narrow disadvantage (48-52%) at San Jose, and 53% at Chivas USA.

First Road Win of 2012: Houston's 1-0 win over Chivas USA erased bad memories of the 2011 road schedule. 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.

Clutch: Brian Ching's equalizer in the 81st minute at Columbus and Andre Hainault's game-winner two minutes into stoppage time at Chivas USA were reminiscent of 2011 for the Dynamo. Last year, Houston scored 14 goals in the final 15 minutes of games, second best in MLS (Seattle).

Six years after the club's first 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 team's Youth Academy and as a color analyst on TV broadcasts.

UP NEXT: DYNAMO COMPLETE BUSY STRETCH WITH SATURDAY GAME AT NEW ENGLAND

After two home games, the Dynamo return to the road on Saturday at New England. The match with the Revolution will complete a stretch of four games in 11 days for the Dynamo.

Injury Report Presented by The Methodist Center for Sports Medicine (As of Friday, May 11)

HOUSTON DYNAMO

OUT: DF Kofi Sarkodie (R foot sprain); GK Erich Marscheider (R shoulder sprain);

FW Brian Ownby (L elbow dislocation)

PORTLAND TIMBERS

OUT: DF Steve Purdy (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: MF Charles Renken (R ankle sprain);

PROBABLE: MF Kalif Alhassan (R knee sprain); DF Eric Brunner (L hip flexor strain); GK Jake Gleeson (R knee IT band tightness)

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

Tally Hall;

Andre Hainault, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Jermaine Taylor;

Calen Carr, Adam Moffat, Luiz Camargo, Brad Davis;

Will Bruin, Brian Ching

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