By TRAVIS CLARK

Dominic Kinnear and the Houston Dynamo have some big questions to answer this year if they hope to qualify for a fifth consecutive postseason berth.

The departure of Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark to Europe leaves two gaping holes in their midfield, and Kinnear must reshuffle and prepare for life without two of his stars.

What a fantastic match this was down at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas. The action was hot and heavy along with the terrible weather this time of the season and of course the first league match for Thierry Henry with the New York Red Bulls facing the Dynamo.

The action got started in the first ten minutes of the match when Carlos Mendes made a quick pass to Henry and attacked down the near side.

Jonny Bornstein, seen here playing against Houston's Geoff Cameron earlier this season, said Monday his toughest opponent in MLS was the Dynamo (and individually it was Brian Mullan, incidentally). (AP photo).

Jonathan Bornstein has always been among the most approachable players in the league.

The improbable matchup of the Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas for the 2010 MLS Cup has reduced most prognasticators to muttering gibberish about the tactical differences on the field, the 4-4-2 versus the 4-5-1.

Yes, the Hoops will have one more person in midfield than the Rapids. Yes, the midfield total includes likely league MVP David Ferreira.

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Last one out of Robertson Stadium, turn off the lights, eh?

It's not exactly that dire, but the club from South Texas finds itself in a state of alarming flux. Let's look at the score sheet:

Ricardo Clark, the team's rock in midfield, is reportedly in the final stages of signing with Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.

With much debate over the attacking spots for the US National Team for the upcoming World Cup due to injury, lack of playing time, and form, Edson Buddle seems to be taking full advantage of the open invitation to secure real consideration for any potential openings.

The forward from LA Galaxy has already taken his season tally to seven, adding another two this week in the Galaxy's victory over defending MLS champions Real Salt Lake.

After one goalless match, LA Galaxy striker Edson Buddle's back in rampant form, seeing off Philly almost single-handedly. There were sendings off aplenty in Week 6, one or two surprises, a great goal for San Jose and - you guessed it - defeat for DC.
DC United slumped to yet another defeat, losing again at home.

Real Salt Lake took the lead three minutes into Thursday night's ESPN2 game with Robbie Findley scoring his first goal of the 2010 season. Alvaro Saborio made it 2-0 in the 24th and scored again in the 60th minute. Houston ruined what had been an easy night for RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando in the 72nd, with Brian Mullan scoring on the Dynamo's first shot on goal.

Costa Rican striker Alvaro Saborio netted a pair of goals while U.S. national team call-up Robbie Findley scored his first goal of the season to help Real Salt Lake topple the Houston Dynamo, 3-1, on Thursday night.

Findley opened the scoring in the third minute, finishing off a Kyle Beckerman pass.

Compared to the previous one, week eight was quite low key in Major League Soccer - perhaps the players knew there would be big news off the field this week. Either way, a couple of great goals punctuated a fairly uninspiring set of matches. Here's what happened.
2009 champions Real Salt Lake got things underway with a bang, beating Houston Dynamo 3-1 in Sandy.

*The Galaxy's next opponents, D.C. United, have traded veteran defender Carey Talley to the New York Red Bulls, which play the Galaxy the Friday after next in Carson.

Talley, 34, only rejoined United, where he started his career, at the outset of the season after two seasons with Chivas USA.

Chivas USA are up first today, taking on the Dynamo in Houston at 1 p.m. on Prime and Telefutura.

The Dynamo are not only without the injured Brian Ching, but couldn't get paperwork in order in time for former Galaxy striker Joseph Ngwenya (four goals over three seasons in 40 games from 2004-2006) to transfer to MLS from a Turkish club and play today.

This will be a bigger challenge than DC United. The Dynamo have lost Dwayne DeRosario, Stuart Holden, and Ricardo Clark over the last two seasons but continue to be one the better sides in MLS. Dominic Kinnear has done an excellent job of replacing departing players and not missing much of a beat.

Photo by Tim Bouwer/ISIphotos.com

In a week where the Los Angeles Galaxy and Houston Dynamo posted impressive victories, the Western Conference powers accounted for nearly half of this week's SBI MLS Best XI.

Edson Buddle and Juan Pablo Angel are familiar names on the Best XI, but Houston forward Dominic Oduro joined that elite group after his stellar performance in leading the Dynamo to a 3-0 humbling of Kansas City.

Costa Rican striker Alvaro Saborio netted a pair of goals while U.S. national team call-up Robbie Findley scored his first goal of the season to help Real Salt Lake topple the Houston Dynamo, 3-1, on Thursday night.

Findley opened the scoring in the third minute, finishing off a Kyle Beckerman pass.

Game time: Saturday, 8:30 p.m.

TV: Fox Soccer Channel

Oh by the way, did you hear Philadelphia Union has a game Saturday too?

Yes, it's been lost in the hype of the U.S. National Team's last friendly and upcoming match earlier on Saturday against Turkey at Lincoln Financial Field.

Game time: Saturday, 8:30 p.m.

TV: Fox Soccer Channel

Oh by the way, did you hear Philadelphia Union has a game Saturday too?

Yes, it's been lost in the hype of the U.S. National Team's last friendly and upcoming match earlier on Saturday against Turkey at Lincoln Financial Field.

Compared to the previous one, week eight was quite low key in Major League Soccer - perhaps the players knew there would be big news off the field this week. Either way, a couple of great goals punctuated a fairly uninspiring set of matches. Here's what happened.
2009 champions Real Salt Lake got things underway with a bang, beating Houston Dynamo 3-1 in Sandy.

Saturday night Theirry Henry made his MLS debut when RedBull New York traveled to Houston to face the Dynamo at Robertson Stadium. Despite being up a man, New York allowed a late equalizer by Brian Mullan and the match ended in a 2-2 draw. Here's post match reactions from New York. Video by Erin Dutka:
New York Coach Hans Backe:
Thierry Henry:
Juan Pablo Angel:
Finally, some video of one of the pitch invaders being turned over to security:

Thierry Henry played his first full match in months, and while he missed a few golden chances, the French star still showed plenty of the skill expected of one of the world's most famous soccer players.

Henry assisted on a pair of Juan Pablo Angel goals, but Houston's Brian Mullan spoiled the debut with a 90th-minute equalizer to help a 10-man Houston Dynamo earn a 2-2 draw at Roberton Stadium on Saturday night.

On Saturday July 31, 2010, Thierry Henry made his MLS debut with RedBull New York as they faced the Dynamo at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Henry having roles in both of New York's goals. This episode includes post match audio from Tally Hall, Brian Mullan, Mike Chabala, Thierry Henry, Juan Pablo Angel, Hans Backe, and Dominic Kinnear.

Thierry Henry played his first full match in months, and while he missed a few golden chances, the French star still showed plenty of the skill expected of one of the world's most famous soccer players.

Henry assisted on a pair of Juan Pablo Angel goals, but Houston's Brian Mullan spoiled the debut with a 90th-minute equalizer to help a 10-man Houston Dynamo earn a 2-2 draw at Roberton Stadium on Saturday night.

The Fire played their most complete game of the season the last time these two teams met on April 24 at Toyota Park. A 2-0 win along with a thourough performance provided some optimism at the time.

The Fire are once again optimistic but for different reasons. While the result of the initial meeting gave hope that Carlos De Los Cobos' system was starting to gel, this match-up could provide a spring board into a big playoff push.

By AVI CREDITOR

The Columbus Crew might have the best Major League Soccer record among the four U.S. Open Cup semifinal teams, but even if they make the final, they won't be hosting the match.

U.S. Soccer announced Thursday that the three possible venues for the U.

Today is roster finalization for MLS. That means that all teams must submit final rosters for possible Playoff rosters to the league office.

This is MLS so there are exceptions, but we are seeing movement particularly by the Colorado Rapids.

Yesterday, they dealt Mehdi Ballouchy to New York Red Bulls for Macoumba Kandji

Today, they acquired Brian Mullan from the Houston Dynamo sending Colin Clark (no relation) and allocation money.

As the Sounders head off to Columbus today -- fresh off a third consecutive loss in the CCL group stage that leaves them six points out of second place -- they have some serious decisions to make.

Most pressing, but essentially out of the Sounders' hands, is today's Roster Freeze Deadline. We've already seen Colorado make two moves, acquiring Mac Kandji from New York and Brian Mullan from Houston (here's Dynamo Theory's take) at the cost of Mehdi Ballouchy and Collin Clark.

Oft-injured midfielder Colin Clark was traded to Houston for Brian Mullan on Wednesday, just ahead of the MLS roster freeze.

Along with Mullan, the Rapids receive Houston's natural fourth round 2013 MLS SuperDraft pick. The Dynamo picked up a midfielder recovering from a second torn ACL in two years, and allocation money.

Oft-injured midfielder Colin Clark was traded to Houston for Brian Mullan on Wednesday, just ahead of the MLS roster freeze.

Along with Mullan, the Rapids receive Houston's natural fourth round 2013 MLS SuperDraft pick. The Dynamo picked up a midfielder recovering from a second torn ACL in two years, and allocation money.

Prior to each match, New England Soccer Today will invite a reporter from the other side to provide insight regarding the Revolution's next opponent.

This week, Colorado Soccer Now writer Shaun Schafer shared his thoughts on the state of the Colorado Rapids and what the Revs can expect when they travel to take on the Rapids on Saturday night.

Edson Buddle scores in July meeting at RFK

The biggest news of the week is that there is no news for this week. With the roster freeze coming at 2 PM PDT on Wednesday, the LA Galaxy announced only one change. That was bringing Yohance Marshall back from loan to the USSF D-2 Austin Aztecs, a team that enjoyed several weeks at the top of the second division of North American futbol this season.

Rapids forward Omar Cummings rockets the ball past Revolution goalie Matt Reis for Colorado's first goal in a 3-0 rout on Saturday night. (Photo by Jessica Taves/ColoradoSoccerNow.com.)

With the end of the season in sight and playoffs looming, the Rapids have put themselves in perfect position.

Befitting a rivalry, a header at the death gave Real Salt Lake a share of the points with the Colorado Rapids in the first Rocky Mountain Cup game of the season.

The late goal offset a record-setting night for Conor Casey and dashed dreams for the Rapids of taking three points on the road.

Casey set a Rapids record for career goals, breaking a tie with Paul Bravo as he scored his 40th goal for Colorado, in the nervy, rivalry affair at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night.

Colorado hosts Philadelphia tonight. (Brian Stevens for WVHooligan)

For two clubs their playoff lives are on the line tonight while the other two clubs involved are just hoping to pad their position in the playoff hunt. Both games tonight could help clear up the playoff picture even more so as we head into the weekend slate of games.

Hey Philly? Your team might be a bit too interested in the Michael Vick - Kevin Kolb saga because they've apparently never heard of this guy Omar Cummings that the Rapids have. That's surprising considering Union player Jordan Harvey played here in Colorado with Omar last year. Despite that the Union didn't seem to even know he as on the field, as they left him unmarked in front of goal twice in the first 20 minutes and Cummings made them paying, staking the Rapids a 2-0 lead on their way to a 4-1 win last night.

Note: I'm starting a family visit this weekend, so the blog will have little or no posts after this until after the Dallas game next weekend.
The Rapids play their second home game this week against one of the "combined" teams of MLS, DC United. DC is awful this year, and they have as hot at one of the worst 5 seasons on MLS history.

An offensive explosion from Jeff Larentowitcz (Larentowicz?!) made the difference as Colorado tied FC Dallas and inched closer to the playoffs on Saturday.

The Ginger Ninja was the offensive spark for a team that started hot, fell asleep, and then dominated for long stretches in the second half in Frisco, Texas.

So I go away for a week and a half with the Rapids on the verge of clinching a playoff spot and I come back to Gary Smith overlooking the worst team in the MLS en route to a home loss and then pulling out a huge point in Dallas against the hottest team in MLS. Yep, same old Rapids.
This week we're in LA for our penultimate game of the regular season, and maybe of our whole season.

The Rapids got into the playoffs about an hour before the game with the LA Galaxy and spent Saturday night vacillating between complacency for getting in and desire to grab a better position.

Desire won.

Omar Cummings and Conor Casey each had a goal and an assist as the Rapids marked their first playoff qualification since 2006 by beating the Galaxy 3-1.

Last game of the season and FaKe SaLt LaKe is in town again. The difference this year is that both teams have already clinched a playoff spot and are now just playing for seeding and the Rocky Mountain Cup. FSL can win the Supporter's shield with a win and LA failing to win or a draw and LA losing.

If you missed the last few moments of Saturday night's game against Real Salt Lake, and literally the last few moments, then you probably thought the Rapids were the new champions of the Rocky Mountain Cup. But there is just something about RSL and stoppage time that the Rapids just can't seem to figure out.