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Houston aims to end Sporting's unbeaten streak

Jul 15, 2011 - 4:59 PM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Dynamo will try to put an end to Sporting Kansas City's 10-game unbeaten streak on Saturday at Robertson Stadium, and in doing so, build a bit of momentum themselves.

Houston's 2-0 win at home over Toronto FC last time out gave the Dynamo five points from its last three games, and coach Dominic Kinnear was happy to see his team move up the table a bit in the Eastern Conference.

"It's always good to win at home," Kinnear said. "We've won five out of 10, which is good, and the goal is to always get three points. We leapfrogged a team and it puts us in a better spot. You can get some momentum and pass some teams if you put some wins together."

Houston is just five points back of both the Philadelphia Union and Red Bull New York at the top of the Eastern standings, so a few more wins would certainly go a long way as well as help the team pick up some momentum.

"[The win] gives us a lot of momentum," said Houston midfielder Danny Cruz following the win over TFC. "I think it's a big swing. Any time you get three points and have that confidence going into the next week, it's good."

Sporting is a team that should be full of confidence with the club riding a lengthy unbeaten streak that was kept alive with Omar Bravo's late equalizer in a 1-1 draw against Chivas USA in its last match.

Kansas City has made a habit of grabbing late goals recently, with Graham Zusi helping K.C. to a draw with Colorado before the Chivas match.

And although Sporting's play has been inconsistent at times over the past couple of matches, coach Peter Vermes has been pleased with how they have responded.

"I said to the guys that in the last 11 games that we've played, it is probably the worst half of soccer that I've seen us play," Vermes said in reference to the first 45 minutes against Chivas. "And unfortunately, that's going to happen. The important thing is how you react in the second half. And I thought our reaction was excellent, and we had the last-minute dramatic goal to get the tie, but the amazing part is the fight the guys have to just keep going and going."

Sporting was dumped out of the U.S. Open Cup in the quarterfinal stage by the Richmond Kickers in midweek, so you can be sure Vermes will be anxious for another good response from his team this weekend.