Homestand a chance to move up

Before international star Héctor Herrera gets on the pitch for Houston, the Dynamo have one more game to play.

Sunday’s home game against expansion Charlotte FC at PNC Stadium is an opportunity to move up the table for the Dynamo, who take on a team that has had difficulty closing games and has managed only two points on the road.

Also, the nonconference matchup is a way to put last Wednesday’s 2-1 loss at Portland behind, a game in which the Dynamo for the most part were the better team.

“That’s the message for the players,” first-year Dynamo coach Paulo Nagamura said. “They should be proud of the performance.

“The result hurt, but if we play with that intensity and quality, we’ll win more games than we lose.”

Sunday’s 7:30 p.m. game is the first matchup between the teams. The Dynamo will introduce Herrera at halftime as well as at postgame festivities that include fireworks.

Houston has not had much success against expansion sides recently, winning just two of its past 16 (six draws, eight losses) since October 2012.

Charlotte has accepted the physical challenge from opponents and is not an intimidated bunch, but it hasn’t translated into wins. Woeful away from home, Charlotte (6-10-2) is 10th in the Eastern Conference, with a dismal 0-7-2 road record.

Charlotte has conceded only 22 goals but, similar to Houston, has struggled in the final third, an area that needs improvement. Over its past 10 games (3-5-2), Charlotte averages less than a goal per game (0.9) with 3.4 shots on goal. The club, under the direction of interim head coach Christian Lattanzio following the in-season departure of Miguel Angel Ramirez, had a midweek 1-0 loss to Austin FC.

The Dynamo are 3-7 over their past 10 games after a five-game unbeaten streak prior. The Dynamo’s seven losses since April 23 are tied for the most in MLS in that span with Toronto FC and Chicago. In that period, they are averaging only 1.1 goals, 4.1 shots on target, and 3.6 corners. They’ve allowed 1.4 goals.

Despite the defeat at Portland, in which the Timbers finished with 10 players, the Dynamo have played well over their past two games. In Portland, Houston deserved more.

As Nagamura put it, “Pleased with the performance, disappointed with the result.”

Portland scored the first two goals, one on penalty, before the Dynamo pulled one back in the 65th minute. Darwin Quintero scored his third goal of the season from outside the box, the shot dipping under the crossbar. It tied him with Columbus’ Lucas Zelarayan for most such goals by an MLS player this season. It is also the most goals from outside the box by a Dynamo player since Brad Davis had three in 2012.

Houston outshot Portland 24-11 — a strong indication the Dynamo were executing against the Timbers but not getting the result. Houston had six shots on target and held most of the possession throughout the match at 60 percent.

“The second half is proof of the team we want to be, slowly becoming,” defender Adam Lundkvist said.

Added midfielder Coco Carrasquilla: “We didn’t quit fighting until the end. The way we played will help us in the rest of the season.”

Houston (6-8-3) has 17 games remaining and is in the thick of the playoff chase. With 21 points, the

Dynamo are ninth in the Western Conference, two points and two places below the playoff line. The Dynamo hope to build off their second half at Portland.

Of late, Quintero has been coming off the bench, giving a jolt to the attack. Quintero is quick on the ball, makes good decisions and adds a different dimension opponents have to deal with.

“Everyone knows what he means for our team and offensively how important he is,” Lundkvist said. “His ability to make plays and create combinations outside the box — he makes those passes others wouldn’t even think about making.”

The Dynamo want to protect home field. They are 4-2-3 at PNC with an even goal differential at 21.

A midfielder, Herrera will make his Houston debut on Saturday at PNC against FC Dallas. The addition of Herrera is expected to raise the play of the Dynamo, who are led in scoring by Quintero’s seven goals. Sebastian Ferreira has scored four times over the past 10 games.

Houston’s backline will look to contain forwards Karol Swiderski and Andre Shinyashiki, who have combined for eight goals and three assists. Former Dynamo midfielder Derrick Jones returns to PNC. Jones scored the second goal in Charlotte’s 2-0 win over New York on June 11.