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Dynamo-Chivas USA Preview

May 7, 2010 - 5:43 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Houston (3-3-1) at Chivas USA (3-3-1), 10:30 p.m. EDT

The Houston Dynamo have been unable to post consecutive victories this season. The likely return of Brian Ching could help them begin finding some consistency.

Houston hopes Ching will be able to play as it tries to extend its unbeaten streak over Chivas USA to 11 on Saturday at The Home Depot Center.

Looking to build off a 3-0 victory at Kansas City last Saturday, the Dynamo (3-3-1) fell to FC Dallas 1-0 on Wednesday, despite playing with a man advantage for the final 18 minutes.

"With just going up a man, playing at home, and we haven't been consistent (all year), it's frustrating," defender Mike Chabala told the Dynamo's official website. "Especially with that situation, you lick your lips and think, 'OK, here we go - we are in a good spot.' But we didn't take advantage of it and got ourselves in trouble."

Coming off its third shutout loss of the season, Houston could benefit from having Ching back in the lineup. The 31-year-old forward, who led the Dynamo in scoring each of the last three seasons, has been out since straining his left hamstring in Houston's April 1 home opener against Real Salt Lake.

Even without Ching, the Dynamo extended their unbeaten streak against Chivas with a 3-0 home victory April 17. Geoff Cameron, who is out for the season with a right knee injury, Lovel Palmer and Dominic Oduro scored in that matchup, and Chabala had two assists.

While the Dynamo haven't dropped a match in this series since a 3-2 loss at The Home Depot Center on Aug. 26, 2006, they'll face a Chivas club looking to build off its most lopsided road win in franchise history. Jesus Padilla scored twice, Justin Braun and rookie midfielder Blair Gavin each added a goal and Chivas (3-3-1) extended its unbeaten streak to three Wednesday with a 4-0 victory at New England.

Chivas hadn't scored four goals in a match since beating RSL 4-0 on April 21, 2007.

"(This game) gives you confidence, and we have to start preparing for Saturday," rookie coach Martin Vasquez told the club's official website. "It's going to come fast and against one of our biggest opponents, we have to have our top game."

Goalkeeper Zach Thornton, who made two saves and recorded his 72nd career shutout Wednesday, stopped two shots in the loss in Houston.

If Pat Onstad plays Saturday, the Dynamo goalkeeper will become the oldest player in MLS history. Preki was 42 years, 113 days old when he made his final MLS appearance Oct. 15, 2005. Onstad will be 42 years, 115 days old on Saturday.

Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson will likely be out with a sprained right knee suffered Wednesday, while Chivas midfielder Michael Lahoud will serve the final game of his two-game suspension.

Houston, which is 0-1-1 on the road, won 3-2 on Oct. 25 in the teams' last matchup at The Home Depot Center.

Chivas USA will try to post three straight victories at home for the first time since winning its first five in 2009.