(Sports Network) - The back-to-back defending Major League Soccer champion Houston Dynamo make their first regular season trip to the place of the franchise's birth since moving to Texas following the 2005 season on Thursday night for a match against the San Jose Earthquakes. After the Dynamo won two championships in two years in their new home, the Earthquakes were reborn as a 2008 expansion club.

The Earthquakes have had an expected slow start to the season, winning just one fixture in seven tries, including two straight losses. The most recent loss was a 2-0 setback at home vs. the New England Revolution.

"We didn't do ourselves any favors by coming out so flat," San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon said after the loss. "One of the problems with this team is that we're a little bit too reactionary with our actions. We wait for something to happen before we do something about it."

San Jose, which added forward Jovan Kirovski and defender/midfielder Kelly Gray in a trade with Colorado for backup goalkeeper Preston Burpo on Wednesday, will be looking for its first home win against the Dynamo on Thursday night. Both new players will be available for selection in the game.

"We have added two proven MLS players at key positions," Earthquakes General Manager of Soccer Operations John Doyle said. "Kelly had a great season here in 2005 and he will provide a good option both in the back and midfield. Jovan has had a distinguished career around the world and we feel that he will make an immediate offensive impact for our team."

The Dynamo, on the other hand, appear to have righted the ship after starting the season 0-2-4. The champs have rattled off back-to-back victories to improve to third in the Western Conference table, and are gaining steam.

"(The winning streak) is a reward for how the team is working," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "Before that, we had some games we were playing well, playing on top of teams, and we just didn't get the result. The results are going our way now."

In the most recent win, the Dynamo, who have struggled to score goals all season, struck twice against a Chicago Fire team that have only given up three goals in its previous seven league fixtures.

"I think we have just been unlucky with our results early in the year," Houston defender Bobby Boswell said. "The breaks just weren't going our way. Or we were making one mistake here or there. But things are going to even out over a matter of time."



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