Dynamo-Crew Preview
By no means did the Columbus Crew shrug off their season-opening five-match winless streak. They expected plenty more from themselves after making a run to last year's MLS Cup final.
There's an odd twist that helped keep them a little more at ease, though. The other two years they began winless in at least five games, they went on to win the Supporters' Shield.
Columbus took a step toward doing so again with its first victory last week and now looks to extend its home unbeaten streak over the slumping Houston Dynamo to nine on Saturday night.
The Crew (1-3-2) also began with long winless stretches in 2004 and '09 before finishing with the league's most points. Accomplishing that again seems improbable, but they're gaining more confidence after Justin Meram's goal in the 80th minute gave them a 3-2 win over New York City FC last Saturday.
Columbus scored three goals in its first five matches combined.
"We only have one win from six, so it's not like we're thrilled that now we've got five points," defender Michael Parkhurst told the team's official website. "But hopefully we can use this momentum and keep it going."
Meram also assisted on goals from Ethan Finlay and Kei Kamara as the Crew snapped out of their scoring slump. They seem to have a prime opportunity to score plenty more against the Dynamo (1-3-2).
Houston has allowed 13 goals this season, including 10 during an 0-3-1 stretch. It has scored the same amount, though, and Columbus realizes it has to remain focused defensively despite expecting some wide-open play.
"They might leak goals but they're going to score," Meram said. "It's going to be that they want a transition game, where we really need to control the tempo for ourselves and take advantage of the overloads."
The Crew slowed the Dynamo's attack in the last meeting March 7, 2015, but Gil Barnes' goal gave Houston a 1-0 home win. Columbus has allowed only six goals in the past eight meetings at home, going 5-0-3 since the Dynamo's only road win in the series in 2007.
Houston coach Owen Coyle is focused on getting his club back on track following last Friday's 4-1 loss to Los Angeles.
Coyle said he planned to make some changes to the lineup but wouldn't do anything too drastic. Houston has lost six straight road matches, part of an 0-9-2 stretch away from home dating to July 10.
"For us, it's an opportunity to get back on the road and show the level of performance to get the points that we've merited in those (previous) road games," Coyle said. "We know it's only a matter of time before the performance on the road results in three points and winning games because we are more than capable of doing that."
Despite the low-scoring affair in the last meeting, Coyle is expecting the Crew to put pressure on his defense, especially with how it has been allowing goals so easily lately.
"This is a very good side. They didn't go to the MLS Cup final by accident," he said. "I think there will be plenty of inventive, attacking play and plenty of pace on display because both teams have real threats."