The San Jose Earthquakes moved to Houston not knowing where they would play and not knowing how they would be received. Now more than five years later they will play their final game at Robertson Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston in front of a crowd and a city that has embraced soccer and the Dynamo organization. Next year the Dynamo will move into a new soccer specific stadium in downtown Houston but before that they have one last game to play in their old home against the Philadelphia Union in the second leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal.
Houston returns home after a big win Sunday on the road against the Union. Led by goals from Andre Hainault and Calen Carr, the Dynamo will have a 2-1 aggregate lead when the take the field tonight. Once again the only Dynamo player unavailable for this game is forward Cam Weaver who had hip surgery and is out the rest of the season. Both the Dynamo and Union had players take some knocks in the first game which was a very physical battle. It’s the playoffs and you can be sure that not only will these players all be out there again but tonight’s game will be just as physical, if not more. Both teams will have to be careful in their physical play as the possibility of a red card could turn the match and the series.
As they have all season, the Dynamo will be driven by MVP candidate Brad Davis. With a lead you may think the Dynamo would be conservative but I expect the exact opposite. Houston will look to attack the Union and get another early goal like they did on Sunday and try to put Philadelphia away early. They must be careful though not to get too attack minded and have a defensive lapse. If the Union can find an early goal to tie the match up they will have the confidence to go forward and find a winner. Ever since the addition of Brazilian Luiz Camargo into the starting lineup at central midfield, allowing Geoff Cameron to play center back, the Dynamo are unbeaten with a 5-0-2 record. Look for Camargo and Adam Moffat to control the middle of the field along with Cameron and Bobby Boswell in the back. The Dynamo will attack on the flanks with Davis and Danny Cruz trying to set up Brian Ching, Carr, or Carlo Costly. Coach Dominic Kinnear loves the speed Carr brings to the lineup and you will likely see him start again up top alongside Ching with Costly coming in off the bench in the second half.
It’s all there to play for. A trip to the Eastern Conference Final is on the line. The Dynamo will attempt to reach their 4th conference title game in just 6 years. The players will be ready, the crowd will be ready in a sea of orange. You can’t replicate the environment that Robertson Stadium will have tonight. Back in 2006 the Dynamo opened their MLS lives with a 5-2 win at Robertson behind Brian Ching’s 4 goals. They now have a chance to end their stay at the Rob just how they began it, in style.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
