SPORTING KC MANAGER PETER VERMES
Thoughts on the match
“The first thing I would say is that my hat goes off to Houston. The home record they have had here is tremendous and Dom [Kinnear] and his staff have done a tremendous job and the players’ will to protect this place is a great achievement and it’s been something to admire from a far.”
On breaking Houston’s unbeaten streak
“I’m more concerned about the points. I think that as a team, we battled for everything tonight. I thought we had a great mentality. I thought the game plan … the guys followed it from front to back. They didn’t deter from it and we were very detail-oriented on the field. With as many changes as were made over the course of the game, for both teams, I thought that we responded well and anticipated things that may happen in the game. From that perspective it was good and to get a result, especially on the road, is always an important thing.”
On the goal and on set pieces
“We have been very good this year on set pieces. It is something that is becoming a part of who we are. We are very dangerous when we have these long throw-ins. [Aurelien] Collin was very courageous to get into that pack because there were a lot of guys in there. He got his head on it, flicked it and it went into the back of the net. I thought we were good defensively as well because they just had a ton of them in the second half.
On the rivalry with the Dynamo
“When we play each other, it is always a battle. These two teams are always battling each other. It’s every roll of the ball. It’s not ten minutes, here and ten minutes there. I have the utmost respect for the team, I think it’s an incredible achievement with their winning streak at home; but at the same time, we have to get ready for the next game, which is DC. We will see them in a few weeks and it’s going to be a battle.”
SPORTING KC DEFENDER AURELIEN COLLIN
On the rivalry with the Dynamo
“I think this game is always special for us. For the last two years, they have beaten us in the playoffs. We have a rivalry against them. Tonight, we wanted to prove to them and to ourselves - since we lost last week - that we are still one of the best teams when we play our game. Tonight, we had to play our game and still be very physical against Houston. That’s what we did. We are very happy with this result.
On getting the win after recent results
“It’s very good for the mentality of the team and for the confidence of the team. We proved to ourselves that even if we make a few mistakes, it’s OK. The last five games, we have not been consistent, and so tonight we went back to the way we have to play and I’m very happy with the team.”
On the goal
“On a throw-in or a corner kick, they were definitely very physical against us. We tried to be as physical as them and scored on the throw-in. We are very happy because they are very good defensively, but we were better tonight and I’m very proud of my team.”
On the physicality between the two teams
“This team is one of the best over the last two years. It’s a very good team; a very physical team. This is my kind of play. I love playing against these types of strikers. I love battling and that’s why every time I come here I give everything I have on the field. It’s a great stadium, a great club, great city and great environment and they always push us to be the best.”
HOUSTON DYNAMO HEAD COACH DOMINIC KINNEAR
Thoughts on the match
“It was a tough game, a scrappy game and not a lot in the way of chances. It took a scrappy goal to win it and then we spent 15 minutes trying to bash down the door to try and get a goal. We came close a couple times but did not get it. It’s a pretty decent week for the guys to get six out of nine points. Obviously, we would have loved to have gotten more with the game tonight, it just didn’t happen. I can’t fault the guys for their effort, their desire or their determination. Like I said, we spent the last 15 minutes putting the fans on their feet and putting us all on the edge of our seat, but we just couldn’t get that goal.”
On the effect of three games in eight days
“Both teams have played a bunch of games with a little travel thrown in. I think that may have had something to do with it. Both teams are competitive, they don’t give an inch, so you can’t always have beautiful soccer out there. It was a tough game for both teams and they got the bounce and we didn’t. You could say the three games in a week had something to do with it, but I also think if these two teams were to play tomorrow, it would be the same amount of effort going on to the field.”
On Aurelien Collin
“He’s a tough defender and is dangerous on set pieces. When you look at the goal, he is just trying to flick the ball on and it just happens to go through a crowd of people and cross the line. He made a good defensive play late in the game … he got his toe on the ball to take it off Andrew [Driver’s] foot.”
HOUSTON DYNAMO MIDFIELDER BRAD DAVIS
Thoughts on the match
“It’s disappointing. It’s definitely a difficult night for us. Six out of nine points is not bad in eight days. I’m proud of the guys. We fought to the end and had some great chances, but we were just a little bit unfortunate. It’s a disappointing way to … I know we are going to be asked about the streak, but that’s why they are records, they are hard to get. I’m definitely disappointed but proud of the effort we put in this week.”
On playing three games in eight days
“It was a big week. We went coast-to-coast. Six out of nine points, that’s not an easy schedule. We are definitely happy with that. Do we want more? Absolutely we want more. But we pushed and like I said, we are not happy right now, but this is one we have to put in the back of our heads. We have a week to recover so hopefully we’ll get back to a healthy squad next week and get back after it.”
HOUSTON DYNAMO DEFENDER BOBBY BOSWELL
Thoughts on the match
“We gave up one more goal than we should have. It’s a long week. Guys are tired, and we had some injuries. I thought we came out and fought, though. We could have been a little tougher all over the field, myself included.”
On the home unbeaten streak ending
“I have said this since you guys started talking about the streak; it’s given teams that come in here more motivation. Have you ever seen them come in here after the game, and go running around screaming in the tunnel? I haven’t. So, they obviously feel that they have accomplished something great. Credit to them for getting the result, but that’s not going to break us as a team. We beat LA but that doesn’t mean that we can take back those trophies. They beat us in the final. We beat them in the playoffs. They came in here, gave us a tough time tonight and they won. So, that’s it. The game is over, and we’ve got to move on, and get ready for New England because it’s not one and done here. It’s just get back to work, and it’s a tough place to play. I think they will even admit that. They did well tonight. We are a better team than that, and we will show it in the next game.”
On facing Sporting KC as the third team in eight days
“We knew it was going to be a physical battle. I think that the travel and the road games definitely had some effect obviously with injuries. Like I said, it’s all about how we rebound and where we go from here. I like this group. I think we’ve got a pretty experienced group and pretty levelheaded guys. No one is going to go home and bang their head against their beds all night. They are going to learn from what happened and we will get ready next week.”
