The Houston Dynamo will travel roughly 200 miles down I-10 to San Antonio to face the expansion San Antonio Scorpions of the North American Soccer League (NASL). It's the Dynamo first match in the 2012 US Open Cup tournament and hopefully won't be there last.

The Scorpions are 4-3-1 so far this season, good enough for third place in the NASL standings.

When the MLS schedule was set, Saturday's match between the Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy looked to be a good rematch of the 2011 MLS Cup Final, and possibly a potential preview of the 2012 MLS Cup Final, but the Galaxy have been struggling, having only won 3 matches this season, and big names like Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, and Geoff Cameron weren't available due to international call ups.

The bad news: This match didn't start well for Houston. The good news: It ended just fine.

After surrendering an early goal on a defensive mistake, the Dynamo came back to down the LA Galaxy thanks to a Mike Magee own goal and a Andre Hainault set piece goal. The victory provides a small level of payback for last year's MLS Cup final, but statements like that should be limited considering nothing can really make up for losing a final.

It's that time of the year again when the MLS Players Union releases the latest player salary information. There's no real surprises for the Dynamo. Brian Ching's salary is way down compared to last season (we knew that), Brad Davis is the highest paid player on the team and Tally Hall got a massive, and deserved, raise.

Exactly 34 years ago today, Houston history was subtly altered, or at least its sporting history. It was on this day in 1978 when, way out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Stephanie Whalen gave birth to one Brian Ching. It is said that on the day of his birth, Pele (this one, not this one) halted the flow of Kilauea Volcano to welcome the new child.

I'm going to re-use a quote that we already had on the site earlier today, because I think it bears repeating. In the locker room after Saturday's match, Ryan Guy said, "I think it's great to be disappointed with a draw. I think last year we would have been satisfied with a draw, and this year we're absolutely not.

So, here's a quick Monday morning look-back to Luiz Camargo's equalizer at Gillette Stadium this past weekend. Take a good look at that goal and how it works.

The ball begins with another New England repulsion of a Houston Dynamo attack, which at that point were kind of coming in waves.

It was like the first seven seconds of that Revolution TV spot.

Black and white scenes of frustrated players. Mistakes. Distorted audio. General malaise.

Although the Revolution followed the philosophy Jay Heaps drove him in the second part of that spot "We're going to attack" they fell into their 2011 form when Luiz Camargo equalized in the 87th minute.

Luiz Camargo scored his first career MLS goal for the Houston Dynamo and Saturday, and it could not have come at a better time.

Camargo buried an 87th-minute equalizer off a left-footed volley to give the Dynamo a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. The near-post finish negated Saer Sene's second goal of the game, and left the Revolution with their latest bit of heartbreak this season.

In what can only be described as continued horrific officiating by a repeat offender for the -- wait, how many are we up to now, 10 or 12? -- umpteen billionth time, the Houston managed a respectable draw with the New England Revolution in RFK Stadium. A goal each by Will Bruin and Luis Camargo helped the Orange avoid leaving Boston with nothing to show for their efforts.

New England Revolution's inability to defend cost the the team two points tonight as they drew 2-2 with the Houston Dynamo in front of 16,414 fans at Gillette Stadium. With the draw New England's record is 4-6-1 for 13 points, while Houston's is 3-3-4 for 13 points also.

While New England are much improved this year under first year coach Jay Heaps, the teams inability to defend set pieces and its habit of conceding late goals have really hurt the team this season.

Photo by Nigel Brooks

Last night the weather was behaving when the Houston Dynamo hosted the Portland Timbers in the first ever night match at BBVA Compass Stadium, but the play on the field never matched the loveliness of the evening weather.

The Dynamo, playing their third match in 7 days, had to shuffle the starting lineup in order to give some players a much needed rest, thereby, ostensibly, giving the Portland Timbers, coming off over a week of rest, an advantage, but the only advantage the Timbers seemed to have was some questionable calls and no calls by the officiating crew.

For some odd very odd reason the new week gets started a day earlier than normal. I won't spend a ton of time with this as I have things to do before this game kicks off. Tonight's game should be a fun one though.

Portland Timbers at Houston Dynamo: John Spencer makes a return to Houston to see their new digs.

The emotional home opener at the newest cathedral of soccer in America is passed and it's time to get down to business. The Dynamo have limited time to recover and prepare themselves mentally and physically for a well rested Portland Timbers team that is desperate for points.

It's been a hectic week for the Dynamo, the dreaded side effect of having to compress the season's home schedule in a shortened amount of time.

Their Words "We are gaining something out of every match it seems. As long as we aren't losing too many of these close games, you will see us improve each and every week." San Jose forward Alan Gordon. Other Sources Lady who built Brian Ching loves House that Ching Built - from The Houston Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz: "She was my first coach and now my biggest fan.

Last week the Houston Dynamo franchise was feeling the love as numerous media outlets in both the United States and outside of the United States gave positive reviews to the team's new stadium, BBVA Compass Stadium, and although the positive reviews were important they would ring hollow if the Dynamo failed to deliver when they hosted DC United for Saturday's inaugural match.

With an orange lei and a Space City blue lei hanging around her neck, Stephanie Whalen beamed with pride as she toured BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday afternoon before the inaugural match. Like most of the sellout crowd of 22,039, Whalen marveled at the House that Ching Built and shed more than a few tears, [.

The Houston Dynamo's dream of a soccer stadium became a reality on Saturday, then Brad Davis provided the perfect capper to a historic day.

The Dynamo's brand new BBVA Compass Stadium opened on Saturday and Davis christened Major League Soccer's newest stadium with a beautiful goal to help Houston defeat D.

In the 67th minute, Co-Captain of the Houston Dynamo, Brad Davis opened his account with El Banco. The first goal to be scored in BBVA Compass Stadium will also be remembered for not only its significance, but for how right the moment felt. It was fitting for Brian Ching to score the first and last goals at Robertson Stadium, and it was fitting for Brad Davis to score the first goal at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Brad Davis' 67th-minute goal was enough to help the Houston Dynamo to their first win in their inaugural game at BBVA Compass Stadium over D.C. United this afternoon in Houston, Texas. The loss was the second in three road matches for United over the course of 10 days. United (5-4-3 18 pts) remains in third place in [.

For many current and former Dynamo players and franchise stars, May 12 will be a career milestone as they play in the state-of-the-art soccer-specific stadium they envisioned when the franchise moved from San Jose. As we approach the inaugural match at BBVA Compass Stadium between Brian Ching's Dynamo and Dwayne De Rosario's D.

The Dynamo fell 1-0 at Red Bull Arena last night in a match that was pretty frustrating for all of us to watch. It sucks to lose a second straight match against a conference opponent, but there's still plenty of time left in the season. Thankfully, as we learned last season, MLS can be very forgiving to poor starts, though considering all the road games it's not really a poor start.

The New York Red Bulls look to make it three wins in a row, but to do so they'll have to get by a Houston Dynamo side finally at the end of its seven-game road trip to open the season (7 p.m., MLS Live/Direct Kick).

The Red Bulls are again without Rafa Marquez, who has completed his three-game suspension but is out with an ankle injury suffered in training, according to the Red Bulls.

Here is a quick look at something that went down Thursday night. Members of the Texian Army, Brickwall Firm, El Bateria and others met at Orange Bar to discuss the formation of an independent supporters union, named the Walker End (the name of the street on the south end of the stadium where the supporters will be).

In the last two games, the Brian Ching and Will Bruin partnership up top has really been impressive for the Dynamo, combining for two assists and three goals. One week after serving the assist for Bruin's first goal of the season, Ching scored his first goal off an assist from Bruin to tie the score [.

In the last two games, the Brian Ching and Will Bruin partnership up top has really been impressive for the Dynamo, combining for two assists and three goals. One week after serving the assist for Bruin's first goal of the season, Ching scored his first goal off an assist from Bruin to tie the score [.

The Dynamo have played five MLS matches in 2012, all on the road. They have 2 wins, 2 draws and a loss, for a total of eight points, good enough for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. If the playoffs started today, the Dynamo would be out...but they don't start today. There are still two matches until the home opener in the brand spankin' new BBVA Compass Stadium, but no matter what happens in those 180 minutes of soccer, things are looking good for Houston.

Former St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri player Will Bruin had one of his most productive Major League Soccer performances this past weekend. The 11th overall selection of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft for the first time recorded both a goal and an assist during the Houston Dynamo's 2-2 road draw against the Columbus Crew on Saturday at Crew Stadium.

The Houston Dynamo fought back from an Eddie Gaven brace to record a 2-2 draw against Columbus last night at Crew Stadium.

And what a brace it was. Following a Will Bruin goal, Gaven went to work, scoring via a boneheaded series of plays from the Dynamo backline, specifically, and in order, by Bobby Boswell, Andre Hainault and Geoff Cameron, and then recording another wonderstrike from distance.

Wow, a match two weekends in row! We're going to get spoiled.

The Dynamo's stretch of matches against Eastern Conference foes continues with a trip to Columbus to face the Crew. Robert Warzycha's side have lost two straight matches and will be looking to rebound against the Dynamo in the friendly confines of Crew Stadium.

Even without Brad Davis, I would expect the Dynamo to handle the Columbus Crew on Saturday. I have a ton of faith in Brian Ching and Will Bruin, and I won't be surprised at all if Ching gets his first goal of the season. Moreover, I think Adam Moffat will be hungry to leave his [...]

Mother nature was not a fan of the Chicago Fire or Houston Dynamo on Sunday.

The two teams played to a 1-1 draw at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. in a match that was delayed twice by lightning before ultimately being called in the 66th minute.

Will Bruin and Logan Pause exchanged goals midway through the first half.

The Dynamo waited over three weeks to get back on the pitch for a competitive match, by 9:15pm CT on Sunday night they'd only managed to complete 66 minutes of action. Despite weather forcing the game to be ended early, the Dynamo and Fire played the required 60 minutes for an official game, so the 1-1 result stands.

Before the season even started, Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear made it clear that he expected his team's depth would be tested this year. Well, watching Brad Davis gingerly walk into the locker room in street clothes a half hour after his teammates had finished practicing Monday, I couldn't help but think the Dynamo would be [.

After three games this season, the Dynamo are still waiting for a goal from a forward. And that is just unacceptable. Heck, as a whole, the Dynamo have scored only two goals this season. One was on a penalty kick by Brad Davis. The other was scored by right back Andre Hainault. If not the [...]

Tagged: Álvaro FERNÁNDEZ, Baldomero TOLEDO, Brad DAVIS, Brad EVANS, Brian CHING, CenturyLink Field, Christian SIVEBAEK, David ESTRADA, Fredy MONTERO, Geoff CAMERON, Houston Dynamo, John Kennedy HURTADO, Leo GONZÁLEZ, Osvaldo ALONSO, Roger LEVESQUE, Tary HALL

Tagged: Álvaro FERNÁNDEZ, Baldomero TOLEDO, Brad DAVIS, Brad EVANS, Brian CHING, CenturyLink Field, Christian SIVEBAEK, David ESTRADA, Fredy MONTERO, Geoff CAMERON, Houston Dynamo, John Kennedy HURTADO, Leo GONZÁLEZ, Osvaldo ALONSO, Roger LEVESQUE, Tary HALL

When the Seattle Sounders FC face the Houston Dynamo the only time this MLS season it will be another road game for the Texas team and another chance for the West to dominate the East. If the East is truly as bad as it seems so far (influenced by more road games) the five Western Conference playoff seeds may come down to performance in those 10 out of conference games.

Dynamo News

• Glenn Davis on the Valencia friendly (Glenn Davis Soccer)
• Dynamo set to play powerhouse Valencia (Houston Chronicle)
• Match Preview: Houston vs. Seattle (Houston Dynamo)
• Ashe will be back for Seattle (Houston Dynamo)
• Dynamo are OK with attacking play (Houston Dynamo)
• Houston finding comfort away from home (Houston Dynamo)
• Levy Restaurants to become restaurant partner (Houston Dynamo)
• Case against dynamo dismissed (Houston Chronicle)
• Officer sues Creavalle after charge is cleared (My Fox Houston)
• US U-23 Olympic Qualifying Preview (Houston Dynamo)

Tweet(s) of the Day

Ok I'm convinced I'm going to win Mega Millions this time.

One of the shames of the unbalanced schedule is that teams that were developing a strong on-field rivalry are now split apart. Houston Dynamo v Seattle Sounders FC matches birthed zombie Jaqua, the Dynamo were the first team to beat Seattle in the MLS Cup Playoffs and only the LA Galaxy have played Seattle more in the MLS era.