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Wizards-Dynamo Preview

Apr 30, 2010 - 4:48 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Kansas City (2-1-1) at Houston (2-2-1), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The loss of Geoff Cameron certainly won't help the Houston Dynamo's chances of extending their unbeaten streak against the Kansas City Wizards.

With Cameron out for the season, the Dynamo look to bounce back from another poor offensive performance and continue their dominance of the Wizards on Saturday night in Houston.

Cameron will need surgery to repair a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. He was injured in last Saturday's 2-0 loss to Chicago.

Cameron was on the MLS Best XI as a defender last year and moved to midfield this season. He made his U.S. national team debut against El Salvador on Feb. 24 as a substitute in the 86th minute.

"We are very disappointed to lose an All-Star caliber player, and we feel especially bad for Geoff and the timing of this injury," chief operating officer Chris Canetti told the Dynamo's official website. "We are confident he will come back healthy and be an impact player for us again next season."

The Dynamo's midfield was already weakened during the offseason when Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark signed overseas. Cameron's loss means more time in the central midfield for Brad Davis, who filled in well last year when Holden had to miss time.

After being shut out for the second time in three games, Houston (2-2-1) will be without four other players as it tries to extend an eight-game (5-0-3) unbeaten streak against Kansas City (2-1-1). Forwards Brian Ching (hamstring), Cam Weaver (knee), midfielder Danny Cruz (red card suspension) and defender Richard Mulrooney (knee) will all sit out as the Dynamo face one of the league's best defenses.

Kansas City has given up one goal, putting it in a tie with Los Angeles for the league lead. Only Seattle has managed to score against the Wizards, who lost that game 1-0 on April 17.

"Teams that win championships over the course of the season have a group that can defend," coach Peter Vermes said.

The Wizards, though, may be without veteran defender Jimmy Conrad, who is questionable due to a strained calf.

Conrad sat out as the Wizards tied the Galaxy 0-0 last Saturday night, becoming the first team to shut down Edson Buddle this season. Buddle has scored all of Los Angeles' seven goals.

Jimmy Nielsen made five saves for Kansas City, lowering his goals-against average to 0.25. Nielsen and the Wizards' defenders have gotten help from the midfielders and forwards.

"The coaches have made a really big emphasis defensively that everybody, no matter who is out there, is working hard on both sides of the ball," midfielder Davy Arnaud said. "I think we haven't had that in the past - where all of us were responsible to defend."