Preview: Houston welcome Portland to BBVA Compass

HOUSTON DYNAMO vs PORTLAND TIMBERS
BBVA COMPASS STADIUM, Houston, Texas
May 15, 2012 (WEEK 11, MLS Game #97)
8:30 p.m. ET
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- HOUSTON DYNAMO -- OUT: DF Kofi Sarkodie (R foot sprain); GK Erich Marscheider (R shoulder sprain); FW Brian Ownby (L elbow dislocation) PORTLAND TIMBERS -- OUT: DF Steve Purdy (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: MF Charles Renken (R ankle sprain); PROBABLE: MF Kalif Alhassan (R knee sprain); DF Eric Brunner (L hip flexor strain); GK Jake Gleeson (R knee IT band tightness)
- SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: none
- SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: POR: Kris Boyd, Lovel Palmer
- This is the only league meeting between the clubs this season.
- Dynamo won both league meetings a year ago, a 2-1 triumph at Robertson Stadium and a 2-0 win at JELD-WEN Field.
- Coaches record: Dominic Kinnear vs. POR: P2 W2 L0 D0 ... John Spencer v HOU: P2 W0 L2 D0
HIGHLIGHTS: Davis wins it for Houston
- The opening of the newest MLS palace needed a touch of magic, and it came from Brad Davis. His left-footed blast from the center of the field, from all of 35 yards out, curled off the outstretched hand of D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid and into the net for the 67th-minute winner.
- Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made four changes to the team that lost 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. Andre Hainault came into the back four for Corey Ashe, Je-Vaughn Watson entered the midfield for Luiz Camargo, and Will Bruin and Brian Ching started up top for Macoumba Kandji and Cam Weaver.
HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-4-2): Tally Hall - Andre Hainault, Geoff Cameron, Bobby Boswell, Jermaine Taylor - Calen Carr (Colin Clark 71), Adam Moffat, Je-Vaughn Watson (Luiz Camargo 66), Brad Davis - Will Bruin, Brian Ching (Macoumba Kandji 84).
- The victory snapped a five-game winless run for the Dynamo and was their third 1-0 victory this season. They have won every match this year by that scoreline.
- Davis scored his second goal of the season, his first since March 17. It was also his first goal from the run of play -- he converted a penalty kick for a 1-0 win against San Jose.
- "I got a ball from Andrew [Hainault] and turned. Usually, my option is to go out to Jermaine [Taylor] if I get closed down,î Davis said. I've been striking the ball well during training this past week so I decided to give it a chance and let it fly. When I did, I saw where it was going and knew he was going to get a touch. I just hoped he wouldnít get enough."
- Davis was one of three Dynamo originals -- along with Brian Ching and Geoff Cameron -- who have been with the club since its move from San Jose for the start of the 2006 season.
- "I always say I don't care who scores as long as they happen, but it was awesome that Brad did it, being one of the originals,î said defender Bobby Boswell. ìI think deep down everyone wanted either Brad or [Brian Ching] to score. The fact that Brad scored and Chingy almost got on the board was awesome."
- The Dynamo also recorded their first shutout in six matches, since the 1-0 win in San Jose. They had conceded eight goals over the previous five games.
- "I think the guys were trying to get me a goal but itís a game of inches and the inches didnít go my way tonight," said Ching. ìI should have put one away. We should have been cruising at the end but we got the shutout and got back to the way things are. It was a great job by our team, specifically our defense and Tally [Hall]."
- While Kinnear rang in the changes for the home opener, with a second match coming some 72 hours later (and third in less than a week), he said he likely make a number of changes to his team again for the Portland match.
- "We are going to change things up. It would be a crime to ask these guys to play 90 minutes again,î Kinnear said. ìUnfortunately, you donít get the chance to rest with a schedule like this."
HIGHLIGHTS: Portland, Columbus battle to scoreless draw
- Goalkeepers and defense ruled the evening. Columbus goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum had six saves, including another diving effort off a Darlington Nagbe scorcher in the 83rd minute.
- Timbers 'keeper Troy Perkins, sporting a face shield after suffering a boot to the nose last weekend against Montreal, was credited with one save.
- Timbers head coach John Spencer made four changes to the team that dropped a 2-0 decision to the MontrÈal Impact at Olympic Stadium. Mamadou Danso, Mike Chabala, Franck Songo'o and Rodney Wallace came into the side, in place of Steve Purdy, Eric Brunner, Steven Smith and Jorge Perlaza.
PORTLAND TIMBERS (4-4-2): Troy Perkins -- Jack Jewsbury, Hanyer Mosquera, Mamadou Danso, Mike Chabala -- Franck Songo'o (Eric Alexander 75), Lovel Palmer, Diego Chara, Rodney Wallace (Mike Fucito 82) -- Kris Boyd, Darlington Nagbe.