Houston Dynamo to wade through choppy water Sunday

The Dynamo are coming off two back-to-back road losses, conceding a total of 5 goals so far on this trip. To wrap up this road trip the Houston Dynamo will face off against the Colorado Rapids. The Dynamo have an all time record of 7-6-5 against the Rapids but haven't won against Colorado since 4/19/2009.

In addition to not winning in Colorado in over 5 years the Dynamo will be without several key players. On the non-injury side both Brad Davis and Boniek Garcia are away on international duty for the World Cup. On the injury side both Ricardo Clark and Mark Sherrod both of whom have notched two goals for the season are out still. Sherrod after having two amazing starts for the Dynamo is out with a season ending ACL tear and Rico is still out due to concussion. Also out will be Brian Ownby who will be serving his additional suspenion for violent conduct in the game against D.C. United.

The match against San Jose gave us our first glimpse of what the team looks like with some of our main team missing. We'll be using either the 4-4-2 or the 4-3-3 against the Rapids if we go the 4-3-3 Bruin will be the loan striker with Giles Barnes wading forward to help. If we go the 4-4-2 Bruin and Barnes will be partnering up to attack a-la last season. The great thing for us the past couple of games has been Omar Cummings who has been playing winger while Boniek Garcia has been away. This will be a homecoming of sorts for Cumming having spent his first 5 years in the MLS with the Rapids before coming to the Dynamo last year.

Our back line will more than likely remained unchanged with Corey Ashe, Jermaine Taylor, David Horst, and Kofi Sarkodie guarding the goal. In a rarity against San Jose David Horst had an off game, although I wouldn't read too much into that since Horst has been a beast for the Dynamo. Finally shoring up the back will be our wall otherwise known as Tally Hall.

Treading choppy water

It's been 5 years 1 month and 12 days since the Dynamo last won against the Rapids. Colorado has been swapping between a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3 this year. The Rapids have been without their lead attacker Vicente Sanchez who has 5 goals for the season. In his place Edson Buddle and Deshorn Brown have been leading the attack. Shoring up the Rapid's back line more than likely will be Chris Klute and Drew Moor. Partnering with them will be another story as interim coach Pablo Mastroeni has been alternating players.

The good news for this game is that the Rapids are averaging only 1.3 goals a game while at home. The bad news is that the Dynamo on the road are conceding 2 goals a game. Given that the Dynamo haven't won against the Rapids in over 5 years and we are in rough patch this game will be a very hard one for us. But the Dynamo are used to having the odds stacked against them and pulling ahead.

Watch the Dynamo navigate choppy water and take on the Colorado Rapids this Sunday June 1^st at 7PM CST on CSN.