(Sports Network) - The Houston Dynamo travel to Colorado to take on the Rapids in a key Major League Soccer Western Conference clash on Sunday afternoon.

The Dynamo (11-6-7) currently hold the top spot in the West, but have won just one of their last four league fixtures. The team is coming off a lackluster 1-1 draw at home vs. the Seattle Sounder FC last weekend in their last league fixture.

"We're always disappointed [not winning] at home," Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad said. "No matter who we play in this league, we feel that we can win. You want to get three points at home, and with only one was a bit disappointing. We could have created a big gap there at the top [of the table], but it wasn't to be. Seattle created more than enough opportunities to get their goal in the second half, and sure enough they got theirs."

"It was a tough game, and I think a draw is pretty fair," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "We have a lot of respect for how they play. They make it really difficult, and they close down the space pretty well.I think if we were a little sharper in the final third, we really could have helped ourselves out. They are a tough team to play. Getting a point is nothing to be disappointed about, but it is tough to lose the lead."

The Rapids (8-7-6) are coming off a heart-wrenching 3-2 loss in which they gave up three goals in the final 20 minutes after going up 2-0, including the equalizer two minutes from time, and the winner in stoppage time.

"It is a 90-minute game, and we will be ready tomorrow to get back on track, but we were on the receiving end of a 3-2 loss," Colorado coach Gary Smith said after the loss. "I thought for 70 minutes that you could possibly say that we were the better team but if you don't play for 90 minutes then it's the punishment you get."

Now, for Colorado, every point is pivotal in the team's chances of making the playoffs.

"Each game becomes bigger and bigger for us," Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens said. "[Sunday], Houston at home is not going to be a cakewalk by any means, it's going to be a tough game and it's something where we need to get three points. [Last week's] game was a must-win for three points for us we thought in our locker room but the game got away from us."

The Rapids will be without midfielder Colin Clark, while defenders Julien Baudet and Scott Palguta are questionable, and forward Conor Casey is probable, all with injuries.

Houston will lineup without defenders Eddie Robinson and Richard Mulrooney, and forward Cam Weaver with injuries of their own.



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