(Sports Network) - Two of Major League Soccer's elite clubs meet at Robertson Stadium on Sunday as the two-time defending champion Houston Dynamo host the surging Chicago Fire. The Western Conference leading Dynamo (8-5-8) are coming off a 3-0 loss at New York last week, but that was just the team's first in its previous eight league fixtures, including four-straight wins.

"They played good, we played bad and therefore, that's what makes up for the score," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said of his team's last outing. "Two goals down after the first [30] minutes is difficult to overcome. I don't think we had that little zip in our step that we had in our last couple of games and all around the field, we were just below average."

The Fire (10-6-5), are currently third in the East, but just two points back of New England and Columbus, which are tied at the top of the table. Chicago has won three of its last four league fixtures, including a 1-0 victory at Los Angeles last week.

"I thought [against L.A.] from the first whistle the team played very well," Fire coach Denis Hamlett said. "We moved the ball and created some good chances. It was a little bit unfortunate not to score a goal early, but I think in the second half we kept doing what we should have been doing, and then we got a great goal by John [Thorrington]."

Brian McBride, who was making his first start with the Fire since signing with MLS from the English Premier League's Fulham, got the assist on the goal.

"I think Brian is a great teammate and a true professional," Hamlett said. "He's come in here and shown our guys that he's capable of playing in big games and helping us do little things. And [last weekend], John [Thorrington] played a ball into him and he held it up pretty well and then laid it back to him when John was through. We expect a lot from Brian and I think he's excited to be back playing with us in Chicago. All in all, we are excited to get the deal done and he's here now."

The Fire were missing a key players from the game in attacking midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco and defender Gonzalo Segares, who were away on international duty. Both will be back Sunday, however.

"We do miss his playmaking ability and his ability to make a pass out of nowhere, which he has done for us so many times this year," Thorrington said of Blanco. "We have to make up for that in other areas and work that bit harder, and create chances for ourselves more than just expecting to get the ball. We will be very relieved to have him back, but it helps us to play a game without him."

Chicago will be without rookie forward Patrick Nyarko, who sprained his knee against L.A., while the Dynamo have no reported injuries this week.



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