(Sports Network) - The New York Red Bulls travel to take on the Houston Dynamo on Saturday at Robertson Stadium is a battle of winless Major League Soccer clubs.

Both teams are off to dreadful 0-2-1 starts to the 2009 campaign after meeting in the semifinals of the 2008 MLS Cup playoffs.

The Red Bulls are coming off a 1-0 loss to Chicago last weekend despite the fact that they played up a man for the majority of the match because of a red card to the Fire's John Thorrington.

"I'm disappointed," New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio said after the game. "I think throughout the 90 minutes we made the extra man count and created enough chances to tie or even win this game, but they only give points for goals scored and that's the reality. ... They had two chances, one in the first half and they scored from it, and one in the 45th minute of the second half."

"The result was a little bit frustrating, especially when you're up a man. They didn't have very many chances throughout the game; I think we had few more. We just have to put one of those away, there are no more excuses," New York midfielder Luke Sassano said. "We only have one point out of a possible nine. We have to put this game behind us and look forward to [the Houston game]."

The Dynamo are coming off a loss as well, 0-1 at D.C. United.

"In the first half there wasn't much between the two teams and I didn't think there was much quality coming from anybody, both sides, attacking-wise," Houston assistant coach John Spencer said. "And in the second half I felt that if anyone was going to score it was going to be us. We got in good positions but didn't have the quality on the ball."

Houston has only been able to score three goals in its first three matches, which has contributed to its poor start. It's hoping the addition of forward Ade Akinbiyi, who was signed early this month, will add something to the attack.

"Looking at his resume and taking a look at what he has been able to do the last couple of years, he could be a very important part of our team," Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear said. "You can tell just by looking at him, and his size, the thing that he will be able to bring to us is pace, power and strength."

Akinbiyi should be available for selection this weekend if his visa paperwork is completed as expected.

The Red Bulls have yet to score a goal so far this season, with the only tally going in for them being an own-goal vs. the New England Revolution. Star striker Juan Pablo Angel has been a non-factor in the team's first three games, and if it wants any success in 2009, it must have him contributing.

"We're creating the chances," Angel said. "We haven't basically found the back of the net just yet. It happens sometimes in football. You create chances and you don't score and it starts to play with your confidence. But I'm sure as soon as we get to score the first goal, many more will come. I'm not very concerned about it."

The Red Bulls will be without goalkeeper Jon Conway, who is serving the last game of a 10-match suspension, while forward Macoumba Kandji and midfielder Sinisa Ubiparipovic are listed as questionable with injuries.

Houston's lone injury is to central defender Eddie Robinson, who had preseason knee surgery.



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