Dynamo look to make statement in CCL match
Houston visits Arabe Unido in CONCACAF Champions League group play
Those associated with the organization could be spoiled by the team's success since joining the league, but Sunday's 1-1 draw against a very tough Seattle Sounders FC was disappointing.
The team lamented lack of communication, missed chances and even substandard play in the final third of the field as reasons for them blowing the 1-0 halftime lead and failing to do so at home, where the Orange are very, very good.
But Wednesday night, when it plays the second of six Group A CONCACAF Champions League games in Panama at Arabe Unido, Houston gets a quick chance to put it all together.
Sure it's just the second match of this tournament, but the teams are co-leaders of the group after posting wins over Isidro Metapan and Pachuca. There is much at stake in the early goings of the Champions League group phase.
"It's important; You want to try to get a result," said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. "If you get three (points), wonderful. If you can stop the other team from getting three, maybe there's a draw involved, then you're doing OK there.
"You can't come in thinking it's going to be easy because it's Panamanian soccer. Panamanian soccer is getting better. It's more physical than it has been in the past, and I think it's a nation that needs to be looked out for. But it'd be nice to get a result."
As for what he expects to see out of his opponent, Kinnear said he and his staff scouted Arabe Unido when they soundly defeated Pachuca 4-1 last week. Kinnear said the tournament-opening win was no mistake.
"It's a very fast team, very physical," said Kinnear. "They break very well when the ball's turned over, their outside backs like to attack, and they're very motivated. It's a great score they had against Pachuca."
Kinnear wouldn't say much about his lineup other than it will be different than what took the field against Seattle last weekend. Eddie Robinson is still injured as are Richard Mulrooney and Cam Weaver.
Newly acquired Luis Angel Landin can't play in the Champions League tournament because he is already listed on Cruz Azul's roster. Landin is on loan from the Mexican club through the end of the 2010 season.
"We just had a game a couple days ago, so we've got to be careful," said Kinnear. "This little break coming up is our last one for the rest of the year, so we have to make sure guys are resting rather than rehabilitating."
The Dynamo are unbeaten in their last three Champions League group stage games, dating back to a 3-1 loss to Pumas in Houston last Oct. 22. They have never won a game outside the United States, but have been able to collect more draws (6) than losses (5).
Dynamo defender Mike Chabala knows that it will take a stellar effort for the team to pick up its first win off U.S. soil. His team, he said, is playing for nothing other than to bring three points back to Texas.
"We're never going out there just to tie a game or close something off and hope to walk away with a tie," said Chabala. We're going out there to win. We'll feel the opponent out in the first five or 10 minutes, make sure we put together some passes, and try to keep the pressure on them.
"Playing away from home is always difficult with the fans behind them and with the travel, so you've got to take all those things into consideration, but after that, it's just another soccer game, just out of the country in a different place."
Andrew J. Ferraro is a contributor to MLSnet.com
