After back to back 1-0 road wins to open their season, the Houston Dynamo face their toughest opponent, and environment, yet. The Seattle Sounders are the opponent and CenturyLink Field and its rabid fans will be the environment greeting the Dynamo tonight. This match also marks the first time the Dynamo will play on the new NBC Sports Network.
While the Dynamo have already played 2 MLS matches this season, the Sounders have played just one. Seattle did however play 2 CONCACAF Champions League matches against Mexican powerhouse Santos Laguna. After a big win at home against Santos, 2-1, Seattle was crushed 6-1 in Mexico and knocked out of the competition. Any thoughts of a possible letdown by the Sounders heading into their MLS opener were put to bed after a 3-1 home win against Toronto FC, a team who advanced in the Champions League.
In the win against Toronto FC it was young Mexican David Estrada who scored a hat trick to lead the Sounders to victory. Estrada’s emergence adds to an already prolific Seattle offense led by Fredy Montero, Alvaro Fernandez, Mauro Rosales, and Osvaldo Alsonso. The Seattle offense will be tested by the Houston defense in the typical “irresistible force meeting an immovable object”.
The Dynamo are the first team in MLS history to open the season with back to back road shut outs and will need to be on top of their game to make it a third straight. Left back Corey Ashe missed Saturday’s match against San Jose with a hamstring injury but is expected to return to the starting lineup against the Sounders. Geoff Cameron is showing why he has a bright future with the national team and Bobby Boswell and Andre Hainault have been their normal solid selves in the back. Tally Hall is playing at an All Star level and made a couple of saves last week that proved he will be in the running for league’s best goalkeeper in 2012.
Sitting back and playing for a draw is not something that fans like seeing but sometimes it can be a useful strategy. This match may be one of the times it is useful. I’d personally love to see the Dynamo try a 5 man midfield with Adam Moffat, Luiz Camargo, and Nathan Sturgis/JeVaughn Watson clogging up the middle. The only problem with this scenario is having Brian Ching up front by himself. Ching doesn’t have the pace and stamina required to play up top alone.
Look for the Dynamo to defend first and foremost and try to hit Seattle on the counter attack or off a set piece. The key to the match for the Dynamo will to close down on the Sounders midfield and not allow them time to create and move. If the midfield can force a turnover and get forward down the wings quickly with Brad Davis and Colin Clark, a goal could come.
This will be a big test for both sides in front of a national TV audience. Seattle will want to not only show their great homefield and supporters, but they can be an elite team in MLS. The Dynamo will want to prove that they are not just a good Eastern Conference team but they can compete with the strong sides in the West. A draw seems like the result here and 0-0 is a possibility. If that’s the case, 7 points in 3 road games would make for a great start to 2012.
(image courtesy of Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
