MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo Game Notes -- May 26 vs. La Galaxy

Published on May 25, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy - 2011 MLS Cup final Rematch

The Houston Dynamo (3-3-4; 13 points) return to BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday for a showdown with the LA Galaxy (3-7-2; 11 points). The Dynamo played to a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution on Saturday at Gillette Stadium. The Dynamo fell behind twice but produced an equalizer in each half to earn a road point. After Saer Sene's first-half penalty kick, Will Bruin equalized for the Dynamo by heading home a free kick from Brad Davis. It was Bruin's team-leading fifth goal of the year and Davis' first assist of the season. Sene handed the Revs a second half lead with his sixth goal of the year before substitute Luiz Camargo delivered a dramatic equalizer in the 87th minute for his first MLS goal. Camargo played a short pass to Brian Ching and received a perfect chip behind the defense from Ching before smashing home a volley past the near post. The Galaxy continued a slow defense of its championship with a 3-2 home loss to the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday. The Galaxy led 2-0 in the 76th minute before the Quakes scored three late goals for a dramatic 3-2 win. The Dynamo-Galaxy clash is a rematch of the 2011 MLS Cup final and the only meeting between Houston and LA in 2012.

Houston vs. Los Angeles: The Dynamo are 5-6-2 against the Galaxy in regular season meetings. Houston was 3-3-2 in eight meetings with the Galaxy at Robertson Stadium and is 2-3-2 at The Home Depot Center against the Galaxy. The teams have met twice in the playoffs, with the Galaxy winning both matches. LA and Houston met in the 2009 Western Conference final, an infamous match in which two light outages occurred at The Home Depot Center and the match lasted more than three hours before the Galaxy won 2-0 after extra time. The clubs battled in the 2011 MLS Cup final on Nov. 20 at The Home Depot Center, with Landon Donovan scoring the cup-winner in the 72nd minute for a 1-0 Galaxy win.

2011 Meetings: Each team earned a win at home in 2011, with the Galaxy capturing a 1-0 victory on May 25 at The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy were awarded a penalty kick in first-half stoppage time and Landon Donovan converted the spot kick for the game-winner. The Dynamo hosted the Galaxy in the final regular season match at Robertson Stadium on Oct. 23. Houston produced a 3-1 win before 30,018 fans, with Adam Moffat delivering a 38-yard "Adam Bomb" for the opening goal before Bobby Boswell and Carlo Costly added second-half goals.

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

Tally Hall;

Jermaine Taylor, Bobby Boswell, Andre Hainault, Corey Ashe;

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

Will Bruin, Brian Ching

Dynamo Notes

BBVA Compass Stadium opener: The Dynamo opened the 13th soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer on May 12. 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. Brad Davis provided a signature opening moment, delivering a beautiful, curling 30-yard strike for the game-winning goal in the 67th minute.

Clutch: Luiz Camargo's 87th-minute equalizer at New England on Saturday was the Houston's third late goal on the road this season. Brian Ching's equalizer in the 81st minute at Columbus on April 21 and Andre Hainault's game-winner two minutes into stoppage time at Chivas USA on March 11 were also reminiscent of 2011 for the Dynamo. Last year, Houston scored 14 goals in the final 15 minutes of games, the second most in MLS (Seattle).

1st for Camargo: Luiz Camargo's equalizer in the 87th minute at New England on Saturday was his first MLS goal.

4 games in 11 days: The Dynamo completed a stretch of four games in 11 days with the 2-2 draw at New England on Saturday. While Dominic Kinnear rotated the squad throughout the run of games, several players logged large quantities of minutes. Tally Hall, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron and Jermaine Taylor each logged all 360 minutes in the four games. Calen Carr (327 minutes), Brad Davis (324) and Will Bruin (273) each logged solid time as well.

Cameron, Hainault called in for national duty: Geoff Cameron was invited to the 27-man U.S. men's national team camp in Orlando in preparation for three friendlies and two World Cup qualifiers. Cameron joined the camp on Sunday and could miss up to two games (vs. LA; @ VAN, 6/10) before returning for the Texas Derby on June 16. It is Cameron's third national team call-up. Andre Hainault has been called into the Canadian men's national team camp ahead of a friendly vs. USA and two World Cup qualifiers. Hainault has 24 caps for Canada and will join the Canadian Soccer Association in Fort Lauderdale after the Galaxy game. He will return for the FC Dallas match on June 16.

Ashe moves to second on franchise list: With his start on May 15 Portland, Corey Ashe played in his 137th MLS regular season game to move to second on the Dynamo all-time list, passing Brian Mullan and Pat Onstad.

Boswell Bicentennial: Bobby Boswell faced his former team D.C. United on May 12 for his 200th Major League Soccer appearance in his eight-year career. Boswell could make his 200th MLS start vs. the Galaxy on Saturday. 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 20 consecutive matches dating to Sept. 14, 2011 at Columbus.

Clean Sheets: The Dynamo earned their fourth clean sheet through nine games in the 0-0 draw with Portland on May 15. Through nine games in 2011, the Dynamo had recorded just one shutout. Houston recorded a total of six shutouts in the 2011 regular season.

Carr Centennial: Calen Carr's start at New England on Saturday was his 100th MLS regular season appearance.

Davis reaches 25 Dynamo goals with BBVA Compass opener: Brad Davis' sensational 30-yard strike against D.C. United on May 12 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.

75 assists on deck for Davis: Brad Davis' next assist will be his 75th in all competitions for the Dynamo.

Offensive: The Dynamo produced 38 shots in their first two games at BBVA Compass Stadium. May 15 vs. Portland the Orange bombarded Troy Perkins with 18 shots. On May 12, 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 May 12 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 vs. D.C. United on May 12 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).

Hainault on verge of 100 starts: Andre Hainault's next start will be his 100th in all competitions for the Dynamo.

Cameron the Ironman: Geoff Cameron has started and played full time in 40 consecutive matches (playoffs included), the most among Houston field players. Cameron has played 3,576 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 43 consecutive starts. Brad Davis' streak of 45 consecutive starts was broken at Chicago on April 15 due to a calf strain. Cameron's streak could come to an end Saturday as he is in camp with the U.S. men's national team.

Cameron Climbing: With Cameron's start at New England on Saturday he reached 141 appearances in all competitions to pass Wade Barrett for seventh on all-time list.

Boswell Milestone: Bobby Boswell's start at New York on May 9 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 scored in three consecutive games (4/15, 4/21, 4/28) to mark 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.

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 eight of ten games on the season and had slim disadvantages in the others. Houston had a 62-38% advantage at New England, 60% possession vs. Portland, 56% vs. D.C., 53% 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.

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: U.S. Open cup at san antonio scorpions on tuesday

The Dynamo will play its first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match of the 2012 campaign on Tuesday at the San Antonio Scorpions (NASL). The third-round match is set for 7:30 p.m. at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio.

Injury Report Presented by The Methodist Center for Sports Medicine (As of Tuesday, May 22)

HOUSTON DYNAMO

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

PROBABLE: FW Brian Ownby (L elbow dislocation)

LA GALAXY

OUT: DF Andrew Boyens (L sports hernia surgery); DF Omar Gonzalez (L knee surgery);

QUESTIONABLE: DF A.J. DeLaGarza (R heel bruise); DF Leonardo (R knee surgery)

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 25, 2012


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