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“Mentally, we’re a resilient team, a tough team, and that’s why we’ve been able to pick up points on the road. You need a little bit of luck along the way, and you need to stay in the game,” Caps coach Carl Robinson said Wednesday.

“We were very strong last year, but I still wasn’t content. I think we still threw away points in games we shouldn’t have. We know every game is tough in this league, and it’s important that when you go there … you go there with the right attitude, the right frame of mind.

“We’ll go with the same make up, setup, mindset as last year, and try to be as positive as we can.”

Photo by DARRYL DYCK / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Vancouver hasn’t won in Houston in team history, going 0-4-1 all-time. Last season, they trailed 2-0 on goals from Alberth Elis and Erick Torres before Brek Shea headed in Christian Bolaños’ free kick in the 85th minute.

The Dynamo look dangerous again this season, dropping Atlanta FC 4-0 in the opening weekend, with all four goals coming in the first half. They’ll be even stronger thanks to the return of starting midfielder and Designated Player Tomás Martínez, returning to the lineup after a suspension that carried over from last year’s playoffs that kept the Argentine playmaker off the field.

As impressive as their win was, with Atlanta tipped as one of the Eastern Conference favourites before the season, Houston was wary of putting too much in one result.

“The only statement that will ever be appreciated is if we make the playoffs again. And we just played one of 34 games, and there are 33 more games to go,” Dynamo midfielder Andrew Wenger told media this week. “There’s going to be good games and there’s going to be bad games. And that’s how we get through them.”