steelerfan's FIFA 14 (PS3) Career Mode Thread

[steelerfan]

A fifth consecutive loss for Houston Dynamo was more of the same on Sunday afternoon at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Houston held a 15-8 shot advantage but could only put two off their fifteen shots on target. This sort of terrible finishing has plagued the club throughout their run of poor form.

Houston must find a way to begin testing the opposing keepers in order to turn the tide of a season that is quickly heading toward leaving the club out of the playoffs.

To make matters worse in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Colorado, the only goal conceded followed a questionable penalty. Jermaine Taylor was whistled just inside the area in the 7th minute allowing Colorado the opportunity twelve yards which Vicente Sanchez converted.

As the month of April comes to a close Houston (1-1-6) find themselves ninth in the Eastern Conference just one point ahead of last-placed Philadelphia Union (0-3-5) and 9 points out of a playoff spot.

Sporting Kansas City (6-3-0) remain atop the East with 21 points. In the West Real Salt Lake (6-2-1) still leads with 20 points.

Dominic Kinnear's side will hope that the month of May will bring better days. Houston opens the month on Sunday the 5th as they travel to face LA Galaxy (4-1-3). The two-time defending MLS Cup winners, LA have beaten Houston Dynamo in the two most recent MLS Cup Finals.

[steelerfan]

In his pre-match press conference, ahead of Sunday's clash with LA Galaxy, Dynamo boss Dominic Kinnear praised LA for their balance and stressed that his side must get an early goal to ease some of the pressure of facing an experienced club on their ground.

Kinnear also mentioned that center back Eric Brunner, who broke his ankle in the preseason opener back in February, is back in training. The club, according to Kinnear, is targeting May 18th's home clash with New England Revolution as Brunner's return, and season debut, date.

[steelerfan]

The slide continued on Sunday evening for Houston Dynamo, losing to LA Galaxy at StubHub Center, 2-0.

Houston hit a new low, failing to put a single shot on target in seven tries. Despite being competitive in shook statistical catagories and possessing the ball 52% of the ninety, Houston again could not find any finishing touch.

Houston Dynamo (1-1-7) will travel to the nation's capital on Wednesday night for a clash with DC United (3-1-4). DC were victorious, 2-1, in Houston on opening night.

[steelerfan]

Houston Dynamo struck first, for a change, at a rainy RFK Stadium when Alexander Lopez took a through ball from Oscar Boniek Garcia and struck from eleven yards in the fifth minute. However, DC United took a 2-1 lead to the dressing room at the half and another Dynamo defeat looked to be 45 minutes away.

The savior for Houston turned out to be Will Bruin. Bruin produced a second half double (69', 88') each time heading an Omar Cummings cross into the DC net. A last gasp effort was denied by Tally Hall and Houston took three points, 3-2.

The win snapped a 6-game losing steak for Houston.

Houston got top-flight performances from Bruin (9.1), Boniek Garcia (8.6), Lopez (8.9), Cummings (8.6) as well as Bobby Boswell (9.4). Possessing the ball for just 37% of the match, Dynamo shooters made the most of their opportunities by putting 4 of 8 shots on target.

Houston (2-1-7) will host Eastern Conference leading Sporting Kansas City (8-3-0) on Sunday.

[steelerfan]

Sporting Kansas City made it eight wins in a row, but Houston Dynamo can hold their heads high after a gritty performance at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Houston possessed the ball for 57% of the match and outshot this visitors 11(4) to 6(3). Houston's lobe goal came after KC had built a 2-0 halftime lead. After a handball call in the area, Brad Davis converted from the spot into the top right corner in the 50th minute to pull Houston to within a goal.

Though Houston poured it on in the final forty, KC escaped with the points, 2-1.

Ricardo Clark (8.8) dictated much of the contest's pace from the defensive midfield and was named Man of the Match, in defeat.

Next up for Houston (2-1-8) is a home date with New England Revolution (2-3-5) on Saturday.

[JBHuskers]

[steelerfan]

A last gasp equalizer earned Houston a 1-1 draw on Saturday night against visiting New England. Eric Brunner, making his season debut after breaking his ankle during a preseason friendly, made his impact felt in the dying embers of injury time, heading a Brad Davis corner on target.

Brunner's looping re-direction just beat diving keeper Bobby Shuttleworth. At that point, Revolution midfielder Scott Caldwell, who was defending the post, lept to head the ball from danger. Instead, the ball caromed off of Shuttleworth's outstretched arms and into the New England goal. Caldwell was dubiously credited with an own goal, for his efforts.

Houston midfielder Ricardo Clark (6.8) was, once again, named Man of the Match. Clark has been a consistent force for Dominic Kinnear in the defensive midfield, even in the club's worst times.

Houston Dynamo will host Colorado Rapids on Tuesday night as both clubs enter Round 2 of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Colorado were victorious, 1-0, at BBVA Compass Stadium on April 28.

[steelerfan]

After his initial attempt was blocked by a sliding Jermaine Taylor, Colorado Rapids Midfielder Vicente Sanchez sent the rebound past a sprawling Tally Hall providing the difference in Colorado's 1-0 Extra Time victory on Tuesday night.

The match's lone goal came in the 109th minute and eliminated Houston Dynamo from the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Houston (2-2-8) will visit Sporting Kansas City (9-3-1), who lead the Eastern Conference with 30 points, on Sunday May 26th. Kansas City were 2-1 winners in Houston, two weeks prior.

[steelerfan]

Houston Dynamo delivered a shock result at Sporting Park on Sunday afternoon. Houston, behind a penalty conversion by captain Brad Davis in the 37th minute, were 1-0 winners over Sporting Kansas City.

Houston got brilliant performances from their backline. Corey Ashe (7.9), Jermaine Taylor (8.8), Bobby Boswell (8.7) and Kofi Sarkodie provided the tackles, blocks, and clearances while Keeper Tally Hall (8.6) made 9 saves to keep an improbable clean sheet.

Having gone 2-1-1 in their last 4 league matches, Houston (3-2-8) have moved into 8th place in the Eastern Conference to finish the month of May.

Sporting Kansas City (9-3-2) have lost consecutive league clashes after opening the season with 12 games without defeat. KC find themselves leading the East, 7 points clear of Chicago who have 3 games in hand.

In the Western Conference, Real Salt Lake (8-3-2) still lead, 4 points clear of LA and 5 ahead of Seattle.

Houston will open the month of June on Saturday the 1st when they visit Columbus Crew (5-2-4) who currently hold the fifth and final playoff spot in the East.

[steelerfan]

Houston Dynamo's Jermaine Taylor, Kofi Sarkodie, and Ricardo Clark have been named to the MLS Team of the Week.

Sporting KC's Jimmy Nielsen was named MLS Player of the Month for May.

[steelerfan]

Houston improved to 3-1-1 in their last 5 league matches on Saturday afternoon at Columbus Crew Stadium. A 1-0 result was earned through a 66th minute 2-on-0. Will Bruin created the opportunity, intercepting a Crew pass near midfield. As Bruin raced toward the opposing net, he was joined by Oscar Boniek Garcia and Bruin delivered a pass to Boniek as they entered the penalty area. Boniek did the rest, slipping a 12-yard shot under the keeper for the match's lone goal.

Tally Hall kept his 4th league clean sheet and Houston Dynamo left Columbus with a 1-0 win and 3 points.

Following the upcoming international break, Houston will visit Montreal Impact on Wednesday the 19th. As Houston (4-2-8) continues their push for a playoff spot they trail Montreal (4-5-5) and DC United (5-2-8), who are level at 17 points and tied for 6th in the East, by just 3 points. Dynamo are 8 points behind Columbus who hold the coveted 5th spot.

[steelerfan]

Houston Dynamo laid a disappointing egg on Wednesday night in Montreal, losing 3-1.

Brad Davis vollied a deflected Oscar Boniek Garcia cross for Dynamo's lone goal, in the 70th minute, cutting what had been a 2-0 halftime deficit in half. But an 89th minute Montreal goal, via a corner kick, sealed Houston's fate.

Houston will host Toronto FC on Saturday at BBVA Compass Stadium. Toronto (7-7-0), currently 3rd in the East, are the only unbeaten club remaining in MLS and they earned a 3-1 win over Houston on their home ground on April 20.

In other news, following reports that Jermaine Taylor has told the team that he is willing to re-open contract talks, his camp has confirmed that he is negotiating a new deal with Houston.

[steelerfan]

A1-1 draw was the result at BBVA Compass Stadium between Houston Dynamo and and Toronto FC.

Andrew Driver put Houston ahead in the 38th minute by chipping home a rebound that caromed off the crossbar and was not parried clear by the keeper, after Bobby Boswell headed a Brad Davis corner. However, Toronto pulled level in the 72nd minute to keep their unbeaten run of 15 matches alive to start the season.

Boswell (9.5) was named Man of the Match for his efforts in defense.

Houston (4-3-9) will visit New York Red Bulls (6-8-3) on Sunday.

[steelerfan]

After more than 3 months of combative negotiations, Houston Dynamo have extended the contract of Jamaican defender Jermaine Taylor (68 OVR), the club announced on Thursday. Taylor, 28, will be paid £6,000 per week on the deal which runs through 2015.

[steelerfan]

A 4-2 loss was the result of Houston's trip to New York to take on Red Bulls. A total of 36 shots in the match, including 14 on target, paced an exciting contest.

Houston got goals from Jason Johnson (19') making his season-debut, and Omar Cummings (81') who came on late for Johnson. Oscar Boniek Garcia was credited with the assist on Johnson's goal, while Brad Davis sent in the corner that Cummings headed in late.

Houston (4-3-10) finished the month of June with 15 points, in eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Sporting Kansas City (11-3-4) continue to lead the East, while Seattle Sounders FC (12-1-3) have pulled level on points with Real Salt Lake (11-4-4).

Houston will open the month of July on Saturday the 6th with a home date with Philadelphia Union. Philadelphia (0-6-12) are bottom of the East table and are the league's only winless club.

[steelerfan]

Houston Dynamo controlled the pace of the match on Saturday night at BBVA Compass but were unable to get the 3 points, drawing with Philadelphia Union 0-0.

Houston held a 55-45 possession advantage and outshot the visitors 16(7) to 7(1).

Despite the statistical advantage, a lack of quality finishing forced Houston to rely on the defending of the likes of Man of the Match Bobby Boswell (7.6) to help Tally Hall, who had 7 saves, register his 5th league clean sheet.

Houston (4-4-10) will travel to Gillette Stadium next Saturday for another lower-table clash, facing New England Revolution (3-5-9). The two sides drew, 1-1, on May 18 at BBVA Compass Stadium.

[steelerfan]

Poor finishing, a lack of possession, and 2 horrid clearing attempts doomed Houston Dynamo to a 2-1 loss at Gillette Stadium on Saturday.

After New England Revolution built a 2-0 lead Servando Carrasco fired a 13-yard laser into the New England net in the 62nd minute for Houston's only goal. Dynamo put just 3 of 15 shots on target in the match.

[steelerfan]

Houston Dynamo (4-4-11) will host Chicago Fire (11-4-4) on Saturday, July 27, to close out the month. Chicago were 2-1 winners at BBVA Compass Stadium on April 14.

[steelerfan]

Houston Dynamo scripted a shock result on Saturday night, defeating Chicago Fire 2-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Houston outshot Chicago 16(6) to 6(2), getting goals from Omar Cummings (71') and Brad Davis (90' pen). Chicago's lone score was a last-gasp effort in stoppage time, trailing 2-0.

Davis (7.1), who assisted on Cummings' goal, was named Man of the Match for his efforts.

Houston finished the month of July, slipping to ninth in the Eastern Conference at 5-4-11 and are ten points from the final playoff spot.

Sporting Kansas City (13-5-4) still lead the East, while LA Galaxy (13-4-6) are the new Western Conference frontrunners.

Houston will open a busy month of August (7 matches during the month) when they host Columbus Crew (7-5-9) on Saturday the 3rd. Houston were 1-0 winners at Columbus Crew Stadium on June 1st and will visit Columbus again on the 28th.

[steelerfan]

Midfielder Brad Davis, Houston's captain, was named to the MLS Team of the Week.