The Houston Dynamo only won once before the beginning of May the last two seasons, so picking up just one victory in their first three games is hardly cause for alarm.
A visit from Chivas USA should provide an excellent opportunity for three more points.
Coming off their first loss, the Dynamo look to keep Chivas winless at Robertson Stadium and stretch their overall unbeaten streak in the series to 10 games Saturday afternoon.
Houston (1-1-1) didn't earn a victory until its fifth game last season and needed seven matches in 2008 to win one.
By contrast, its early 2010 work has been a rousing success. The Dynamo drew 1-1 with Dallas in their season debut and beat Real Salt Lake 2-1 on April 1, though they couldn't earn points in a third straight match last Saturday. Houston gave up two first-half goals and could do little offensively after Luis Landin picked up a red card shortly before halftime in a 2-0 home loss.
"You can't spot a team two goals like that, and especially being down a man, expect to come back," coach Dominic Kinnear said. "I thought the defending for both goals was really poor and they took advantage of them."
Houston has allowed the fewest goals in the league in each of the past three seasons, so the Dynamo players weren't panicking after a rare off night.
"Guys make mistakes like that, myself included, and if you want to stay on the team, you can't do that," defender Eddie Robinson said. "I'll doubt we'll have many mistakes like that again this year because if you do, there are a lot of good players sitting on the bench that want to play."
Houston should be in good position to bounce back Saturday, considering it's 6-1-5 in this series and hasn't lost in nine meetings since Aug. 26, 2006. The Dynamo have outscored Chivas 15-1 in eight home games, going 6-0-2 including playoffs, and haven't allowed a goal in the past seven.
Chivas (1-2-0) didn't score in losing its first two matches, but got on the scoreboard Saturday in New York. Jesus Padilla, who entered in the 39th minute for injured defender Ante Jazic, hit a shot that goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul mishandled into his own net for the first goal, then scored in the 90th minute to ensure a 2-0 win.
"This win feels great," rookie coach Martin Vasquez said. "It feels that way because the guys finally get rewarded for all the hard work they do during the week. We lost the first two games, but we came out today and it's a difficult situation and our team responded."
He'll have to hope Padilla can continue to make an impact offensively, as Jazic will miss four to six weeks with an MCL sprain. Plus, forward Maykel Galindo could miss two weeks with a sprained ankle.
Kinnear's squad has a few absences to worry about as well. Landin will miss the match due to suspension, while forwards Brian Ching and Cam Weaver are injured.
That leaves the Dynamo with Dominic Oduro and newly signed forward Joseph Ngwenya - who scored seven goals with Houston in 2007 - as their only healthy players up front.
