Rapids 1 - 1 Dynamo
Final
  for this game

Rapids limp into BBVA to test Dynamo

Apr 26, 2013 - 8:48 PM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rapids not only have to overcome an abundance of injury problems on Sunday in Houston, but they also have to overcome the Dynamo's 35-match home unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Colorado had a modest two-game winning streak snapped last time out by Seattle Sounders FC. But maybe more worrying is the number of players who will be unavailable to head coach Oscar Pareja for the trip to Houston.

Midfielders Martin Rivero and Jaime Castrillon, last year's leading assist man and goalscorer, respectively, are out with long-term injuries, while captain Pablo Mastroeni, starting goalkeeper Matt Pickens, center back Diego Calderon and newcomer Kevin Harbottle are also sidelined.

To make matters worse, rookie Deshorn Brown was injured in training last week, and then forward Edson Buddle was scratched just before game with Seattle due to right knee pain, the same injury that forced him to miss the first four games of this season.

But it didn't stop there as defender Marvell Wynne went down with a right quad strain during the match.

"Seriously, it's unbelievable," Pareja said of the injury situation. "I had to check if I had seen it before. I have not. Not that I can remember."

Colorado does have a six-game unbeaten streak against Houston, but that figures to be severely tested on Sunday.

The Dynamo has won all four of its matches at BBVA Compass Stadium this season, but head coach Dominic Kinnear has injury issues of his own to contend with.

With Boniek Garcia already out because of Achilles problems, Kinnear watched as both Brad Davis and Adam Moffat went down in a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC last time out.

Both Davis and Moffat needed to be replaced by halftime, while forward Omar Cummings has also been struggling with injuries.

Cummings was brought in to be paired with Will Bruin, but he has only played sparingly since returning from preseason knee surgery.

"You don't want players to get injured at all, but if they do you'd like to see it spread out through the course of a season and not all at once," Kinnear said of his team's injury situation.

Sunday's game may come down to attrition more than talent, but so far this season, the confines of BBVA Stadium have been enough to carry the Dynamo to three points.






Related News