It is the most important game of the year this Friday as it is do or die for the defending MLS Cup champions.
Tonite’s Dynamo Power Hour with Glenn Davis will originate from the ESPNZone in Washington DC and will feature both coaches from the Houston Dynamo Dominic Kinnear and from FC Dallas Steve Morrow.
FC Dallas defender Chris Gbandi will weigh in while Pat Onstad will check in for the Dynamo.
Former Cosmos goalkeeper Shep Messing will weigh in on the NY/NE series in the Eastern Conference.
Here what Brian Ching, Brian Mullan and Wade Barrett think about Houston fans and Friday night’s big game.
Call in number is 713-212-5790 and Glenn wants to hear from you.
The show streams live on the internet at 790thesportsanimal.com or MLSNET.com
Email your questions if you don’t want to call at GlennDavis@thesoccerhour.com

IT is fitting that five time World Cup Winners Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup.
The last time Brazil was a host was 1950 where they lost 2-1 to Uruguay in the final.
For a country that has given so much to the game it is clear it is a proud moment.
Twelve cities will be used with the final game to be played at the Maracana.
Rio, Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, and Brasilia will all be host cities among others.
So lets just pencil it in, Brazil are favorites to win the 2014 World Cup…..now there is a stretch.

If you were not a part of last years MLS playoffs at Robertson Stadium than you missed an amazing moment in Houston sports history.
There is no doubt that Houston’s most active professional sports fan base will be in playoff form this Friday night at Robertson Stadium when they host rivals FC Dallas.
The atmosphere will be much different than the recent game at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco where FC Dallas took game one 1-0 behind a goal from Clarence Goodson.
Expect Dallas to do a bit of deep defending but if they don’t come out and play some they will have to preserve their lead against a Dynamo squad that is struggling to score goals. IN fact the Dynamo have been shutout twice in their last 4 games and have lacked good wide play.
This is one not to be missed.
The game will only be available on the Free Kick Package with the FC Dallas feed.
Predict your score here and what happens Friday night.

First lets talk the MLS playoffs.
The first game of these two games series are clearly conservative with fear gripping most of the team involved. The scorelines are indicative of what we expected with NE/NY tying 0-0, Chivas USA losing 1-0 at KC, Chicago defeating DC 1-0 and the Dynamo losing 1-0 at FC Dallas.
Three goals scored in four games, all goals come off mistakes and only one comes from the run of play.
Two of the goals are plays where defenders fail to attack the ball in the air and let it drop to opponents who score.
So predictably things will get more open in game two with a sense of urgency to score goals built in.
Ok on to the Interliga which will come back to Houston on January 5th with Mexican League clubs Cruz Azul taking on Monterrey and San Luis taking on UNAM. Now I don’t want to sound negative here and I know I will be more excited about these games come January but right now I could really care less.
Monterrey/Cruz Azul is definetly mouth watering but I think with the Superliga, Interliga, and assorted friendlies could the market be getting saturated with Mexican league teams?
One of the great rivalries in world soccer takes place on Wednesday between Roman clubs Lazio and Roma, this is can’t miss viewing.
FREE KICK MASTERS event has been moved to July 5th due to European schedules, in fact this date makes more sense.
Josh Gardner who spent three years with the LA Galaxy and won an MLS Cup and last year won the USL title with the Seattle Sounders is heading on trial to Sweden.
Don’t forget the Dynamo Power Hour on Wednesday at 7-9pm and the Dynamo Soccer Report on Channel 55 this Friday at 6pm but most importantly get out to Robertson Stadium for the DYNAMO VS FC DALLAS Friday night.

Club America defeated Chivas yesterday in the Superclasico that was filled with passion and emotion at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Six minutes in the second half produced all the goals as Juan Carlos Silva scored in both the 5oth and 55th minutes, Chivas striker Omar Bravo scored in the 56th.
So does Club America miss Cuauhtemoc Blanco? Maybe not on this night but they are still mid table in their group.
UNAM went down to Cruz Azul 2-1 and Puebla and Vercruz tied 0-0.
Your thoughts on the SuperClassico and Mexican league results from this weekend.

Now before we get into the Dynamo 1-0 loss at Pizza Hut Park lets look at a few things from the opening games in the MLS playoffs. Predictably tight score lines as teams play more conservatively in game one. Three 1-0 games and a 0-0 draw.
Lets look at how the goals where scored:

Chicago 1 DC United 0- 14th minute the DC defense is hesitant and don’t attack a ball in the air well (Greg Vanney as well) ball drops to Chris Rolfe who rifles it home in the upper corner. Reason for goal: MISTAKE

KC 1 Chivas USA 0 - A free kick from Davey Arnaud (Nederland, TX) provides the difference. FREE KICK

NE 0 NY 0 - A draw in the Big Apple

FC Dallas 1 Houston 0- A long Adrian Serioux throw in (ironically last year a Dynamo weapon when Serioux was in Orange)
is not dealt with properly by the Dynamo, Eddie Robinson and Ryan Cochrane got caught too high and the throw gets over their head. Pat Onstad’s starting position was in question to deal with the throw in which nobody gets a head on and Clarence Goodson pounds it in. Reason for goal: MISTAKE

So four games, three goals , two from mistakes and one from a free kick just reminds us that teams are conservative in game one, gripped by fear and tactics. All the teams are in a position in game two to go through and none really have played good attacking soccer purely because of the conditions of the series.
Here are some thoughts from Dallas.

Atmosphere- still the Pizza Hut Park is lacking energy, where was the playoff energy. IT was a big dissapointment for me after being in Chicago Thursday for the ESPN2 seeing poor attendance and no passion at the PHP. Dynamo fans get a thumbs up for making the trip up.
How embarrassing to the sport of soccer and to FC Dallas was in to see football lines on the field from a high school football game? A big thumbs down to FC Dallas for that, come on , how will anyone think we are taking this game seriously if a high school sport can leave lines on the field. Oh but they looked good in high def. The players, the league, the fans, and the sport deserve more and it just makes all involved look poor.
We have to set the bar higher.

The Dynamo and FC Dallas scratched and clawed which should be expected in game one of a series.
Arturo Alvarez and Stuart Holden cancelled each other out wide, the Dynamo had difficulty getting any width in their attack so the bread and butter of creating chances off crosses was eliminated so Brian Ching did not get any real service.
Brad Davis did not effect this when he came on.
FC Dallas matched the Dynamo intensity and had a bit of an edge to their game, lets face it they are playing without pressure which may be a good thing for them as they have nothing to lose.
FC Dallas coach Steve Morrow was smart getting Carlos Ruiz and Pablo Ricchetti off who were both carrying yellow cards.
The Dynamo were in this position last year coming home to Robertson a goal down to Chivas USA.
Workmanlike game, typical tight opening playoff game with mistakes magnified, few chances and little free flowing build-ups.
Players getting that little bit less time on the ball.
The Dynamo have it all in front of them on Friday as FC Dallas comes to Houston.
Your thoughts on the opening playoff games including the Dynamo.
Glenn

The Dynamo take on FC Dallas tonite at 7pm on (HDNET, Channel 55) and there are some interesting issues to think about:

1. Who plays at the back for the Dynamo? The normally dependable Wade Barrett has an ankle problem, will he go that is the question. This area of the field must be secured with the dangerous Arturo Alvarez of FC Dallas in strong form.
Does the rookie Cory Ashe play there as a naturally left footed back? Available defenders are Craig Waibel, Eddie Robinson, Patrick Ianni and Ryan Cochrane plus Brian Mullan. What does Dominic Kinnear do here?

2. The Dynamo will face the agressive strong and powerful Ken Cooper Jr. for the first time in a long time and he will pose and additional challenge to the confrontational Carlos Ruiz . FC Dallas has had a very positive and intense week of training according to sources.

3. Who starts in goal for FC Dallas? Young Ray Burse has been in goal for FC Dallas lately, does FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow go back to a veteran in Dario Sala?

4. Time for stars to step up: Carlos Ruiz of FC Dallas is the top goalscorer in playoff history with 15 goals in 15 games. An uneventful season could be changed if he produces in the playoffs. Brian Ching has not looked sharp in the Dynamo last outing but could be ready for a break-out game, on that note the Dynamo need Dwayne DeRosario to produce a stellar effort.

5. IT could be a straight 4-4-2 vs a straight 4-4-2 tonite but with that FC Dallas must match the work ethic of the Dynamo.

Predict a scoreline……..

Houston soccer fans your local soccer show is on the air tonite.
The show tonite features interviews with Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear and midfielder Richard Mulrooney.
Viewer mail, rumors rants and raves, plus domestic and international highlights.
Fans have your viewer mail read on the air by emailing Glenn a gdavis98@swbell.net or Glenn@thetube.net

A 14th minute goal by Chris Rolfe was the difference as the Chicago Fire defeated MLS’s top team, DC United 1-0 at Toyota Park.
On a cold Chicago night a mistake was magnified as the DC defense was hesitant to and unbalanced ultimately dealing poorly with an aerial ball which Rolfe ultimately got on to and lashed into the upper corner.
The Fire would defend deep in the second half to preserve their 1-0 victory……Will it be enough going back to RFK next Thursday?
Only time will tell but if it weren’t for three key Troy Perkins saves it might have been 2-0.
DC United started the night of with 2/3 ’s of the “trio of envy” on the sideline with injury. Luciano Emilio the league’s regular season goal scoring champion sat from the start due to an ankle injury and so did Jaime Moreno with a foot injury.
Both played in the second half with Emilio coming on late and Moreno starting.
Playoff tactics gripped this one to a degree and expect more 1-0 results as playoff action resumes on Saturday.
Your thoughts on the Chicago/DC United game.

The MLS playoffs begin tonite on ESPN2 at 7:30 when the Chicago Fire host DC United.
This Eastern Conference semi-final series is challenged by the quick turn around for both teams who played 4 and 5 days ago.
DC United has injury issues with Luciano Emilio and Jaime Moreno while Chicago is coming off the emotional high of defeating LA to get into the playoffs a mere 4 days ago.
The Fire have finishing issues with Chad Barrett and Paulo Wanchope and they may move Chris Rolfe back up front into his natural strikers role.
The regular season becomes a memory tonite and we all know that these home and home games can provide surprising results.
On an additional note my thanks to ESPN radio in Chicago who accomodated me for the Dynamo Power Hour last night from the ABC building in downtown Chicago. Thanks to Justin Craig and all who helped get me set up.
Also thanks to all the great soccer a callers last night who are adding to the content of the show.
Podcast of the show which featured interviews with Dynamo striker Brian Ching and FC Dallas midfielder Arturo Alvarez is available at HoustonChronicle.com or 790thesportsanimal.com