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Earthquakes-Dynamo Preview

Sep 4, 2010 - 9:21 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

San Jose (8-7-5) at Houston (6-11-5), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The San Jose Earthquakes are still in contention for a playoff spot. For now, so are the Houston Dynamo.

The Earthquakes will try to snap a three-game road winless streak as they visit the Dynamo on Sunday night.

San Jose (8-7-5) is in sixth place in the Western Conference, but it has recorded at least one point in six of nine games. After posting consecutive 1-0 victories at home over Kansas City and Los Angeles, the Earthquakes fell 2-0 at New York last Saturday.

San Jose was outshot 10-2, providing little help for goalkeeper Jon Busch.

"I thought we had a pretty good performance tonight, but we did not finish the chances when we had them," coach Frank Yallop told the Earthquakes' official website. "We had four or five solid chances and on another night we finish those. We were a bit unfortunate not to get something out of the game."

Depth will be a big concern for Yallop. Defender Bobby Convey will miss the game because of yellow card accumulation, forcing Yallop to use his fourth different starting back line in five matches. Additionally, forward Ryan Johnson is out after being recalled to the Jamaican national team for a pair of friendlies.

"It's frustrating when you get to see some of the other squads and guys get to really build chemistry, with the same faces in the lineup week in and week out," said Jason Hernandez, who is returning from a two-game suspension. "And it shows; in good defenses, rarely are there many faces changing week in and week out."

The defense may not have much trouble against Houston (6-11-5), which has been shut out in three of four games.

The Dynamo, who trail San Jose by six points, lost 3-0 to Colorado last Saturday.

Injuries and depth are also a worry for Houston. Brian Ching is doubtful for Sunday with a left calf strain after he missed last weekend's contest, and Lovel Palmer is also with the Jamaican national team.

Coach Dominic Kinnear expressed irritation that Palmer declined to reject the call-up.

"It's unfortunate that he's made the decision to go away," said Kinnear. "That's the decision he's made, and it's put us in a bit of a spot because we spoke last week about having the squad together and healthy for the first time, and now it's going to be changed for the next two (games)."

San Jose's Chris Wondolowski returns to Houston for the first time since being traded in June 2009 after four seasons with the Dynamo. He has a team-high eight goals with the Earthquakes.

"Bottom line: We have to worry about ourselves and getting three points," Houston defender Richard Mulrooney. said "Whether there is a history of relocation, trades, fans, whatever, it doesn't matter. Any more slip-ups or let-downs, we're going to be looking at our offseason plans instead of the playoffs, and that's a major concern for us."

The Earthquakes have lost both of their visits to Houston.