The Houston Dynamo came into Saturday’s match against Sporting Kansas City with no excuse to walk away with anything less than the full three points. The team hadn’t won in over a month, fans’ disapproval was all over social media throughout the week and (to add to the pressure) team owner Gabriel Brener was in attendance.
At the end of the night, everyone left home happy.
It’s a win that calms the troubled waters and snaps a six-game winless streak for the Houston Dynamo. Most importantly, it means the Dynamo are finally adding points to their tally in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
“I stressed all week and in my interviews that tonight was paramount,” said Houston Dynamo Head Coach Owen Coyle. “The most important thing is that we got the points, but I also like my team to preform well and we did that. Too often this season we’ve preformed really well and we haven’t left with the points we want.”
Coyle featured his 7th different lineup combination in nine games this season, the biggest change being the first start of the season for designated player Erick Torres. Tyler Deric and Alex Lima also returned to the starting lineup after serving suspensions.
Torres contributed with an assist to Giles Barnes in the 30th minute to put the Houston Dynamo in the lead. Andrew Wenger scored in first half stoppage time to give the Dynamo a 2-0 lead.
The defense would hold on for Houston, collecting their second clean sheet of the season, as the Dynamo would pick up their second win of the season. Houston’s last win was on March 12, a home win over their other rival, FC Dallas.
The Return of Brad Davis
Brad Davis returned to the city where he spent a decade of his career for the first time since his move to Kansas City. Victor Araiza/Prost Amerika
One of the headlines of this match, for as long as he was on the field, was the return of longtime Dynamo and former team captain (2012-2015) Brad Davis. The 2014 FIFA World Cup participant with the U.S. Men’s National Team was traded to Sporting KC this past January.
Until his departure, Davis was one of the few players that was still with the Dynamo since the team’s relocation from San Jose in 2006 and a member of the back-to-back championship teams. His return to BBVA Compass Stadium was heightened by a curling goal last Sunday in a 1-1 tie with LA Galaxy.
“It’s the first time I’ve come back and not been in an orange jersey,” said Davis in an exclusive postgame interview with the Dynamo’s communication team. “Definitely different, definitely some emotions there but overall we came here to get a result and we didn’t so it was definitely disappointing in that aspect of things.”
Davis played 67 minutes, took two corners, was called for a foul and suffered three.
In Memory of Leo Ponce
The Houston Dynamo organization dedicated the match in memory of Leopoldo Ponce. Victor Araiza/Prost Amerika
This match had a special significance in the Houston Dynamo community because it was the first time the club played at home since the passing of longtime fan Leopoldo Ponce. The reaction of the fans at the game was a testament to the impact Leo had on the Dynamo community and how many lives he touched.
Leo was a member of the “El Batallon” supporters group and, most recently, covered the team as a member of the media for Orange in the Oven, SBI Soccer and Keeper Notes. Leo was the only member of the Houston media to cover the team in their trip to Tucson this preseason.
To honor Leo, Dynamo players and SKC midfielder Brad Davis wore a patch with Leo’s initials “LP” on their training shirt sleeves. The shirts were auctioned off postgame with the proceeds going towards a charity in memory of Leo.
The captain’s armband also featured Leo’s initials, which Giles Barnes pointed to after his goal in the 30th minute.
The road ahead for Houston and Kansas City
Houston picked up three crucial points but remains in last place in the Western Conference. On top of that, the Dynamo haven’t won on the road since July 10, 2015.
The good news? The Dynamo return to the site of their last road win, Avaya Stadium, to face the San Jose Earhquakes on Wednesday night before returning to face Real Salt Lake at home on Saturday.
Sporting KC now looks to overcome their own six-game winless streak when they head to Commerce City, CO to face the Western Conference-leading Colorado Rapids on Wednesday. SKC then returns home to face Orlando City SC on Sunday.
Victor Araiza is a beat writer covering the Houston Dynamo for Prost Amerika.
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Houston Dynamo
Sporting Kansas City
