Despite rough patch, a franchise first hangs in the balance
Beating Los Angeles would earn a spot in U.S. Open Cup final
The Dynamo are on the brink of making club history when they host Los Angeles FC on Wednesday night.
They hope to advance to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final for the first time in the franchise’s 13-year existence.
But the Dynamo have lost three consecutive MLS matches — to the Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City. In the games against the Union and Sporting KC, Dynamo coach Wilmer Cabrera and his players believe they were subject to questionable calls.
In Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Kansas City, the Dynamo were assessed a team-record three red cards to go with six yellow cards. Cabrera had a meeting with Howard Webb, the general manager of the Professional Referee Organization of Major League Soccer on Monday.
“We spent two hours talking about the situation and understanding all sides and trying to move forward with all this, because nothing is going to change,” Cabrera said. “The fact that we have lost the last two games (because of ) the circumstances is not going to change. But we have to move forward. And how can we move forward? Understanding each other, understanding what’s happening (and) recognizing who has (made) mistakes.”
Now, the Dynamo are looking ahead to taking on Los Angeles, which is in fourth place in the Western Conference. Though this match will not impact MLS standings, the Dynamo, who sit at the 10th spot in the conference, hope to use this game to turn around their season.
The last time these teams faced was in early July, when the Dynamo scored two goals in injury time to force a 2-2 tie after going scoreless in regulation. Los Angeles was missing forward Carlos Vela, who represented Mexico in the World Cup. Vela leads the team in assists with six and is second in goals with eight.
“They’ll only be stronger,” Dynamo defender Adam Lundkvist said. “We have to be prepared and prepare well so we can have a good game against them. Hopefully, we can do a better game. Maybe we don’t have to wait until the injury time to score some goals.”
The winner of the game will play the winner between the Philadelphia Union and Chicago Fire, who play in Wednesday’s other semifinal.
Lundkvist, who was signed by the Dynamo on April 26, says winning the U.S. Open Cup has been a goal for the club the whole season.
“Ever since I came here, it’s been a big focus to play great games in the Open Cup, and we’ve been taking it very seriously the whole time,” Lundkvist said. “It’s a title. That’s what you’re in this game for, to win titles. We have a big opportunity and a great opportunity to win one.”