Houston Dynamo FC to face Sporting Kansas City on Sunday

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 3, 2021) The Houston Dynamo FC hits the road with six games remaining in the season to face Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City with a 3 p.m. CT start.

Dynamo head coach Tab Ramos talked with the press on Friday, October 1, via zoom, and talked about the team's preparation for the match.

First, he discussed how the team is navigating this match prior to the international match.

 "Obviously, we're a little disappointed after this last game that we couldn't get three points. In particular, once we analyzed the video and we saw how many clear chances we had to win the game by two or three goals, it's disappointing. We have to keep moving forward. This team has done a good job of that, of putting things behind and working as hard as possible for the next game and that's what we'll keep doing."

He also talked about what to expect from Kansas City.

 "I think it's no secret that they are a really good team. I feel like Seattle and Kansas City are the two best teams in the Western Conference. I have to say, I'd have to include Portland in there because I think player-by-player, I think Portland is just as good and they will get their form. Kansas City is difficult in particular at their place. I feel like we're in a good moment right now and we're going for the win, that's what we prepare for."

With the MLS playoffs looming on the horizon, he stated: 

"I think we cross that bridge when the time comes. Personally, I can tell you I've been involved in soccer since I was five-years-old, so it's been 50 years of doing this. I've never quit anything, and we always do all we can to win games. At the end of the day, that's why you play the games. Right now, we're still in it, I think we need a big result this weekend. That's what we're going for and that's what the players are excited about." 

Having beat Kansas City earlier this season, he discussed if that game will play an impact on Sunday's matchup.

"We think we can, I think Kansas City is playing better now than they were at that time, but I feel like we're playing better than we were at that time. I think defensively we're much more solid right now than we were at that moment. I know we won the game I think 1-0, when we played them at home. I didn't feel like we were as solid as we are today, we didn't have Teenage (Hadebe) at that time I believe. I think we're a better team now than we were at that time and I think they are as well." 

He was also asked if they are doing anything differently to prepare for this road game:

"Not really. We have to analyze the video and we have to think about how we're doing according to what we see there. Not necessarily and I realize of course that I'm always responsible for results only, I know that's the one thing that matters. When we analyze the video, we have to look at chance creation and how we were in front of the goal and did we get in front of the goal and should we have been winning the game. I think we're at that place where I feel like this last game, we certainly should have won it and in Minnesota we made two serious mistakes to start the game that kind of took us out of the game, the rest of the game was good. Not that that's a consolation, but I do look at our last five games and I see us in a good trend playing better and doing well. I think at the moment, we of course improve a few little things here and there, but we're defending a lot better and we have to continue to do that and that gives us a chance to win."