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Dynamo-Union Preview

Oct 1, 2010 - 7:40 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Houston (7-14-5) at Philadelphia (7-13-6), 4:00 p.m. EDT

The expansion Philadelphia Union are looking forward to a three-game homestand after a dismal mid-week performance on the road.

The Union will try to stretch their home unbeaten streak to six Saturday when they host the Houston Dynamo for the first time.

Philadelphia (7-13-6) turned in its worst defensive performance of the season in Wednesday's 4-1 loss at Colorado. The Union had trouble with the altitude, giving up two goals in the first 15 minutes and two in the second half after not conceding more than three goals in any other match.

"Once you give up two early goals, you start to chase the game and you are forced to play with a lot more risk than you would normally play with," captain Danny Califf said.

Substitute Jack McInerney scored in the 90th minute of a match in which Philadelphia was thoroughly outplayed.

"That is not our team," assistant coach John Hackworth said. "Not in the way that we played the game, not in the energy that we brought. Teams will have those nights."

The Union have been a much better team at home, going 2-0-3 in five matches since a 2-1 loss to East-leading Columbus on Aug. 5. This homestand includes sold-out matches against Los Angeles and New York, although an under-capacity crowd is expected for this match against a Houston team that earned an impressive victory its last time out.

The Dynamo (7-14-5) are back on the East Coast after last Saturday's 3-1 win over D.C. United. Houston scored three times in the second half after falling behind to end a four-game losing streak and improve to 2-9-2 on the road.

"It was a great win overall," midfielder Geoff Cameron said. "It was a hard-fought game, and everybody put the effort in."

The victory didn't come without a cost as goalkeeper Pat Onstad collided with the elbow of defender Andrew Hainault late in the match. Onstad suffered a concussion, but he returned to practice Friday and hopes to play.

Since backup Tally Hall is out with an ankle injury, coach Dominic Kinnear may be forced to give Houston-area native Tyler Deric his first start if Onstad can't go.

"If I get the chance, I'll be ready," Deric said. "I'm hungry to play. It's what I've been working for all year, so if the team needs me on Saturday, I'm ready to go."

This is a matchup of two of the worst defensive teams in MLS. Houston is tied with New England for the most goals allowed with 45 while Philadelphia has conceded 43.

The Union earned their first road victory at Houston, 3-2 on May 29 as Danny Mwanga scored the game-winner in the 90th minute.