Wins vital during push for playoffs

A recent draw with FC Dallas ended the Dynamo’s five-game league losing skid. But with opportunities dwindling as the season draws near its close, Houston must win to maintain its playoff aspirations.

Those hopes nearly faded Thursday before newcomer Ronaldo Pena rescued the team with his tying 88th-minute goal. But a team starved for points will try to earn them from another one of the league’s best when the Dynamo (7-11-7; 28 points) face the New York Red Bulls (16-6-4; 52 points) on Wednesday.

The Dynamo enter the game in 10th in the Western Conference, nine points behind the Seattle Sounders and L.A. Galaxy, who occupy the final fifth and sixth playoff spots with 38 points each. There is good news.

The Dynamo play Seattle twice and close the regular season against the Galaxy (who they defeated 3-2 in May). Their final nine games represent a chance to earn as many as 27 points, and six of those opponents currently sit higher in the conference standings.

The bad?

Houston hasn’t won back-toback games since June. And if you account for just league games, its last set of consecutive wins dates back to May.

It’s been crunch time for the Dynamo throughout August, yet their only win this month came in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal. The Cup win was meant to galvanize a struggling team, but instead it has been a hiccup in the midst of a 10-game winless league run.