The Houston Dynamo are set for a Wednesday night game against the Colorado Rapids before heading back out on the road to Canada. Houston has dominated Colorado at Robertson Stadium. The men in orange are 5-0-2 all time against the Rapids at home. Fresh off his first career hat trick can Will Bruin stay hot and extend the Dynamo’s unbeaten streak?
Bruin scored three goals last Friday night at home against DC United and the rookie is in fine form. He leads the team with four goals on the season. Forward Brian Ching returned as a substitute on Friday and could return to the starting lineup tonight. New signing Koke, another forward, made his MLS debut in Friday’s match as well and will likely remain on the substitute’s bench until he reaches full fitness. There is no chance Bruin will be benched so if Ching is ready to start look for Cam Weaver to return to the bench.
Midfielder Brad Davis leads MLS with six assists. Davis is deadly on set pieces and has carved defenses open in the run of play so far this season. Central midfielder Geoff Cameron and winger Danny Cruz are unlikely to play which will lead to some new starters in midfield for the Dynamo. Jamaican international JeVaughn Watson made his debut on Friday and could start alongside countryman Lovel Palmer in the center of the Houston midfield. Another option would be to start Koke as an attacking midfielder and play Palmer as a defensive midfielder. Former Rapid Colin Clark will likely start again in place of Cruz at right midfield. The Dynamo defense should remain unchanged as the quartet of Hunter Freeman, Andre Hainault, Bobby Boswell, and Corey Ashe have played well as of late.
The Rapids enter this match fresh off a draw with the Chicago Fire 1-1 on Saturday, ending their three game losing streak. Forward Andre Akpan, who scored Saturday, will get his second straight start as Conor Casey is still not fit and did not travel with the team. The Rapids are the defending MLS champions but have had a slow start to this season. They were also hit with a big suspension to one of their key players as former Dynamo midfielder Brian Mullan is in the middle of a ten game suspension he received after breaking the leg of Seattle Sounders midfielder Steve Zakuani.
Expect the Rapids to come out looking to get in front early. If the Dynamo can get an early goal like they did Friday they will be dangerous to come back against at home. With Davis and Bruin both in great form it could be an uphill battle for the road team.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
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