June 8, 2008 MLS Houston Dynamo vs Toronto FC pregame comments (from MLSnet.com)
06/08/2008 1:24PM
Dynamo turn attention to Toronto FC
Houston prepared for strong Toronto club
By Andrew J. Ferraro
HOUSTON -- Ricardo Clark was one of the last players off the field following Friday's training for the Houston Dynamo in the Bayou City. With Wednesday's game at D.C. United postponed due to inclement weather, the team turned its attention to Toronto FC, who the Dynamo will meet Sunday evening at Robertson Stadium. The unexpected night off meant there was extra time for Clark to put in stretching and working on a few fundamentals.
Toronto FC has been all but dominant at their BMO Field home, but less impressive on the road, with just one of their five victories south of the border. The Dynamo are unbeaten at Roberson Stadium this season, and when TFC comes calling, two of its top two players will be missing due to international call-ups.
But Clark said TFC is certainly not a team to be overlooked. The Reds are playing with a lot to prove following last year's inaugural campaign that delivered more disappointment than wins. The Dynamo, Clark said, need to be ready for a hungry opponent.
"They are playing with a lot of confidence right now and I think we are too," Clark said. "They came out with a lot of prove this year and I think they have done that based on their results. They have added some personnel. But I think if we come out and control play early, and play with the confidence we know we have, I think it is going to be a good game."
Missing from the lineup will be talented midfielders Maurice Edu and Amado Guevara, who are currently playing for the U.S. and Honduran national teams, respectively.
Clark said the team will run into problems if it starts to worry about who is in and out of the lineup on the other side of the field. The short-term goal for the week, he said, is to play well and take advantage of playing at home where the team is 2-0-2 this season.
"I think Sunday will be a good match for everyone," Clark said. "And another good thing is that we will be playing the game at home, we are playing well there and we need to show the fans that we are the kind of team that can go out there and win another championship. After all, that is the goal from day one."
The Dynamo will have nearly a full squad Sunday night, even though it is still likely that captain Wade Barrett (groin) will not be healthy enough to start. The team needs to take advantage of having everyone around this week because Dwayne De Rosario and Pat Onstad will not be available for next Wednesday's match against New England.
De Rosario and Onstad will be with the Canadian national team when it plays against St. Vincent and the Grenadines in World Cup qualifying on June 15.
Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear acknowledges the team will be shorthanded, but also hinted that the extra playing time for the rest of his roster has created a healthy competition that will help the team later this summer.
Injuries are going to pile up again, possibly, and the rest of the team is being conditioned now to be ready when called upon.
Andrew J. Ferraro is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
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