Despite defeat, Kinnear happy with Dynamo's performance

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Although his Dynamo had just suffered their first loss of the MLS season, coach Dominic Kinnear was in a relatively good mood late Friday night.

The scoreboard at CenturyLink Field hardly reflected how competitive the Dynamo were in their 2-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders, and Kinnear was pleased with his players' effort.

"We started out great," Kinnear said by phone. "In the first 20 minutes, we looked excellent. The first goal was lucky."

Unlucky bounce

The Dynamo controlled possession until the 23rd minute. Seattle caught a break to score when David Estrada sent a shot from inside the 18-yard box.

Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall, who had not given up a score all season, stretched to his right and appeared set to make a save or let the ball go wide.

But Estrada's shot deflected off Geoff Cameron's foot, changed direction and beat a fallen Hall.

Four minutes later, Cameron was called for a foul on Seattle defender Patrick Ianni inside the 18-yard box. Brad Evans converted the penalty kick.

The Sounders' Roger Levesque, left, fends off the Dynamo's Je-Vaughn Watson during Seattle's 2-0 win late Friday night. The Sounders' Roger Levesque, left, fends off the Dynamo's Je-Vaughn Watson during Seattle's 2-0 win late Friday night. Photo: Otto Greule Jr Photo: Otto Greule Jr Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Despite defeat, Kinnear happy with Dynamo's performance 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The Dynamo must wait until April 15 for their next match, against the Chicago Fire.

"One of the first things I thought when I walked in the locker room, I was saying, 'I wish we could play next week,' " Kinnear said. "Maybe it will help. After this we get a lot of conference opponents. Hopefully we get healthy."

The Dynamo are 2-1-0 even though they have essentially played without the services of central midfielder Luiz Camargo, the creative Brazilian who made his first appearance of the season off the bench in the second half. Overcoming a leg injury he suffered in a car accident this winter in Brazil, he has not been fit enough to play 90 minutes.

Camargo eases back

Last year, the Dynamo went on a nine-game unbeaten streak and reached the MLS Cup final after Camargo was inserted into the lineup. Barring an injury, he should be fit April 15.

Playing their first seven games on the road, the Dynamo are near the top of the standings after the first three weeks.

"You look at tonight and you see we've lost our first game of the year, albeit to a good team," Kinnear said. "But yeah, six (points) out of nine, winning your first two out of three. It could be a lot worse."

Fortunately for the Dynamo, their next road game will put them more than halfway through their seven-game road stretch while they wait for BBVA Compass Stadium to open May 12.

jesus.ortiz@chron.com twitter.com/OrtizKicks