Manchester City match still on

The storms stayed away long enough to keep the biggest international friendly in Dynamo history on schedule for Thursday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.

English Premier League heavyweight Manchester City will travel to Houston to face the Dynamo in the annual Dynamo Charities Cup on Thursday night.

The recent storms that hit the Houston area put the match in peril, prompting Dynamo officials to consider postponing the Manchester City match until another year.

“After a great afternoon of weather and some excellent work by the grounds crew, we are confident about the prospects of playing,” Dynamo president Chris Canetti said Wednesday. “We have our fingers crossed that the weather will hold and things stay on a positive track.”

Canetti contemplated postponing the match because the recent storms in Houston and Central Texas hindered the installation of a new sod on the BBVA Compass Stadium pitch.

The Dynamo began installing new sod Sunday after hosting weekend concerts Friday and Saturday.

“The four hours of downpour we got (Wednesday) morning on this new field, with 10 inches of rain (Monday and Tuesday) — the field cannot handle another storm,” Canetti said.

Manchester City, which won the 2013-14 EPL title and finished second this season, is one of the top clubs in Europe. Since it was founded in 1880, Manchester City has won four EPL-First Division titles, including two of the last four.

“A team like Man City is really the caliber of club that we are truly pleased to bring in,” Canetti said. “They’re basically a global All-Star team from around the world, with several players who have played for their countries at the World Cup.”