Sunday, July 9, 2023

Positive Result, Negative Performance - Houston Dynamo 2:2 Sporting K.C.

 


On a night where the Houston Dynamo dominated a game for long periods of time, they also committed several crucial mistakes that led to the 2-2 scoreline.  While the Dynamo mauled Sporting K.C. is almost every statistical category, both goals conceded came directly from horrendous Dynamo mistakes.  On a night when they needed 3 points, the Dynamo cost themselves both in the scoreline and the standings as this team fights to remain above the playoff line for yet another year.  Let's take a look at the positives, the negatives, and everything else from last night's draw in The Shell. 

Bartlow set up S.K.C.'s first goal.

Peter Vermes' side came out playing the passing lanes between The Dynamo back 4 and their midfield 3.  Leaving the wings open, SKC was allowing the Dynamo to hold possession in the back line but forcing them to pass the ball deep and diagonal.  
Bartlow tried to force a pass through the middle, and Gadi Kinda's positioning forced the pass to be a dangerous one.

It wasn't just Bartlow, but his pass started a chain reaction in which SKC was quicker to the ball, quicker to space, and left the Dynamo chasing Pulido and the game for the rest of the half.  But the goal seemed to settle the Dynamo down.  Bassi and Quinones started dropping into that space on the left wing, which began to open space in the midfield for HH and Artur.  Over the final 20+ minutes of the first half, Ben Olsen's side held almost 70% of the possession and fired off 5 shots to none.
When the Dynamo finally did connect to tie the game right before half, it was one of the prettiest team goals I have ever seen in #ForeverOrange.  Hector Herrera led a matriculation of the ball down the field and through the middle of the SKC defense that was brilliant, perfectly timed, and perfectly skilled by all involved, and was soo great that I couldn't do it justice with a diagram, you just have to watch it.

The Ugly part 2: Artur's missed tackle.

From the opening kick of the 2nd half, the Dynamo were on the front foot.  Artur found his way through the defense and put a good shot on target (47:31) that was deflected by goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh and knocked out for a corner.  On the ensuing corner Thor got a mysterious Yellow (seriously, does anyone know what that was for?) and Erik Sviatchenko got a good head on the ball but unfortunately directly at the feet of Daniel Steres who was standing offside.  The Dynamo high press, Aliyu and Nelson running the channels, the Dynamo were completely controlling the run of play. But even though they were the more dangerous team, the Dynamo simply could not connect on the final play.  Nelson's run down the left side and low cross (54:07) was just knocked away.  But that high pressure came back to bite them when Baird missed a tackle in the attacking third and Andreu Fontàs found Kinda on the left flank.  The pass seemed innocuous enough, but when Erik Sviatchenko had to come up and stop the ball, SKC had numbers forward, and Sviatchenko in a blender. 

Kinda hit Erik Thommy and raced down the left touchline.  Thommy placed a perfectly weighted ball down the sideline, and it was Artur racing back who slid over to pick Kinda up just outside the box.  Late, trailing and on an island, Artur quickly got put on his heels as Kinda took him on direct with what seemed like 500 stepovers.  Artur, who has been one of the best off-season additions in MLS this year and has barely put a foot wrong, put a step very wrong and knocked Kinda to the ground.  

Pulido calmly tucked it past Steve Clark and put SKC up 2-1.  But, once again, this goal seemed to energize and re-focus the Dynamo.  #Naranja buckled down and fired off the games final 9 shots pushing everyone (including Sviatchenko) forward.
Despite obvious attempts at time wasting (which went completely unchecked) by Sporting KC, the Dynamo put the throttle down.  Holding 77% of possession over the final 20+ minutes AND 10 minutes of added time, Ivan Franco finally found the back of the net to tie the game at 2.  While Franco made a tremendous effort play to get on the end of this ball, credit has to be given to the people that set this up starting with 60 yard dime from HH, to the headed ball from Thor, everything was set up for this goal to go home.  When Sebas dummied the ball through to Franco, it left SKC pants-less and Franco did the rest of the dirty work.  

Sebas ridiculous yellow:

My thoughts on this are: (1) It should have been a red (2) It was absolutely ridiculous (3) I kinda love it.  Sebas, who has been in the dog house all year, actually showed a little fire and passion and refused to allow SKC's blatant time-wasting to go unchecked.  I'm not condoning the action, but I appreciate the fight.

Notables:

Hector Herrera: Was literally everywhere and played a hand in both goals.  Touched the ball 105 times in this game, and without Coco Carrasquilla was literally the architect of everything that happened last for the Dynamo.  Despite Peter Vermes' game plan of doing everything possible to take him away and not let him have an influence on the game, SKC simply didn't have the ability to hold him down for 90 minutes.
Hector continued to flash that he may be the best dead ball striker in MLS, and he had Erik Sviatchenko are a dangerous pair on set pieces. While there has been a lot of concern about HH by some fans since he arrived from Madrid a year ago, there have been 0 signs of him slowing down this year.  This is now his team.

This team desperately misses Coco:

We haven't seen him in a Dynamo uniform since 4-0 win against LAFC on 6/10, and while the Ben Olsen and Co have gone 2-2-1 without him the attack is missing a much-needed element without him in the lineup.  Coco wins balls and gets them upfield through the middle third as well as anyone in MLS, and while his play is missing in the final third, his work over 2/3rds of the field helps free up attackers to simply get forward and create.  He balances out the midfield and gives the back 4 another option to simply give the ball to and let them go to work.  He also allows the defenders to defend, without them having to creep forward and join in the attack.  While he's gaining notice in the Gold Cup, he's also been very much missed here.  Being that he won't be here again for Wednesday night's matchup either, Ben Olsen might need to look for some depth here or a slightly different positional situation in order to maximize this squad.

Next Up:

The Dynamo really need 3 points from this game.  Coming off the first win against a team that dominated them recently, on short rest with lots of weary legs.  

Until Then.....

Remember to always #HoldItDown and stay #ForeverOrange,
Brian

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Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Dear City of Houston: Come and see.

 
I realize as I'm writing this, that literally none of my readers needs it.  I'm going to ask something I've never asked, and it's that you share it with someone who could use it.  Either someone who has never gone to a game, someone who is interested but yet to pull the trigger, or someone who has left the fold and is yet to return. Houston is a big, amazing city.  It's time we start packing the Shell.  Dear City of Houston: Come and See.

HH recently said it, and Glenn Davis echoed it on Soccer Matters.  Dynamo Die-Hards have been asking it for years (especially the newer ones like me).  Why don't more people go to games? Even Houston Dynamo Fan-Legend Web Tilton is trying to drum up support. With a population in the greater Houston Area of around 7 million people, why aren't there more people coming to Shell Energy Stadium? I know, I get it, you've never really watched soccer and you don't know much about it.  Or, like me, you played as a kid and have forgotten how awesome it is.   Maybe you're tied to your love of the Rockets or the Texans and just have never given the Dynamo a thought.  Maybe you used to go to games, but the past ownership drove you away.  It's time, City of Houston, to come see.  Come see what is going on at and around this stadium, come see what is going on inside this stadium, and come and see the guys that put on the uniform and represent our city.  Maybe you're interested in joining the wave before the World Cup comes in 2026, or maybe you're just looking for a place to get out and have something to do here in Houston.  Maybe you're a person like this:

Whatever the situation is, it's time to come and see.   

The Shell is the place to be.

If you haven't been yet, you'll be surprised how easy it is to get to, how much space there is to park, how accessible it is by rail, and all there is to do in and around the stadium.  Parking is directly across the street from the Shell Energy Stadium, and there's tons to do before you even get inside. There is no sporting event in Houston that is more Houston than a Dynamo game.  The pregame festivities around the stadium are fun and family-friendly.  There's live music and vendors, and you can usually find our supporters' groups pregaming pretty hard in the parking lot before the game.  Inside the stadium, you'll find a wide variety of Houston-based restaurants filling the food vendors' stations. It's no doubt the best food inside any Houston venue.  I don't think there's really a close second.



You can find lots of places around to grab a bite or a drink before the game.  From Pitch 25, Tulum, Texas Tailgate, Huynh, Gotti's, or a little bit down the street there are places like 8th Wonder Brewery, Truck Yard, Rodeo Goat, and Tiny Champions Pizza.  There are lots of places nearby to sit and relax before the game begins.  The selections both inside and around the stadium are diverse as the city itself.  No matter what you're hungry for, there's something there to satisfy it.  

If it's been a while since you've been to a game, you're in for a whole new experience inside the stadium.  Ted Segal has been hard at work revamping the stadium, while Pat Onstad and Asher Mendelsohn have been busy revamping the roster.  Both are showing positive results, especially when this roster plays inside its home stadium.  From a stadium perspective, the new mesh seats were an excellent upgrade for the boiling Houston heat.  Shell Energy Stadium provides an intimate game experience where you are always close the action.  From beginning to end, a Dynamo game provides an experience unlike any other in Houston.  Ticket prices are reasonable, and if you don't care when you go you can find tickets for as low as $11. 7-1-3 nights show $7 dollar tickets, $1 hot dogs, and $3 beers.  Games are quick, and from kick-off to final whistle is about a 2-hour time commitment.
2023 Houston Dynamo and Dash Promotional and Theme Nights
DATE
MATCHUP
THEME / PROMO
SPONSOR
Saturday, March 18
Dynamo vs Austin FC
Opening Day
Shell Energy
Sunday, March 26
Dash vs Racing Louisville
Opening Day
Shell Energy
Wednesday, April 19
Dash vs Kansas City Current
713 Night
Wednesday, May 3
Dash vs Chicago Red Stars
713 Night
Saturday, May 6
Dynamo vs Real Salt Lake
Kid's Day
Saturday, May 20
Dash vs San Diego Wave
Asian American Heritage Night
Saturday, May 27
Dynamo vs Austin FC
Asian American Heritage Night
Saturday, June 10
Dynamo vs LAFC
Pride Weekend
Sunday, June 11
Dash vs NY/NJ Gotham FC
Pride Weekend
Wednesday, June 21
Dynamo vs San Jose Earthquakes
713 Night
Friday, July 7
Dash vs Chiago Red Stars
Hispanic Heritage Night
Saturday, July 8
Dynamo vs Sporting Kansas City
Americana Night
Kroger
Saturday, August 26
Dash vs Kansas City Current
Inspiring Women's Night
Chevron
Saturday, September 16
Dynamo vs St. Louis CITY SC
Kick Childhood Cancer
Heribeto Ramos
Wednesday, September 20
Dynamo vs Vancouver Whitecaps
713 Night
Saturday, September 30
Dynamo vs FC Dallas
Hispanic Heritage Night
Coushatta
Saturday, October 7
Dynamo vs Colorado Rapids
Fan Appreciation Night
Sunday, October 8
Dash vs Angel City FC
Fan Appreciation Night


This team is a different team.

Nope, we don't have Lionel Messi.  Hector Herrera is the best player to ever wear a Dynamo uniform and is in the midst of an All-Star caliber season, but if you don't follow soccer you might not have ever heard of him.  Coco Carrasquilla is rapping up a run that earned him a spot as one of the best players on the continent.  The Dynamo are making a deep run for the US Open Cup title, and are sitting squarely in a playoff spot at the end of June. The 2023 Houston Dynamo is a collection of guys that fight hard for 90 minutes and are nearly unbeatable at home.  We have stars from all over the globe, from Europe, Iceland, Africa, South America, and from right here in Houston.   The team has aging veterans, solid stars, role players, and young exciting prospects.  Ibrahim Aliyu, Nelson Quinones, Micael,  Brooklyn Raines, and Ethan Bartlow make up the next wave of stars wearing #ForeverOrange.  Coco, Teenage, HH, Amine Bassi, and Erik Sviatchenko are veteran leaders pointing this team in the right direction.  This team is not only one of the best defensive teams in the league, but it's also becoming reliable at scoring goals as well.  Steve Clark has been a rock at the back end all year. But more than that, this team has fun together, they play for each other, and they fight for each other.  Ben Olsen has this team playing hard and playing together.  This is not your usual Dynamo team of the last few years, and if you've never been and never followed, may I introduce you to an excellent opportunity to get in on the ground floor of an exciting new program.......

You won't find another team that lets you get this close.

Between the Dynamo, Dash and Dynamo Dos (who play their games at  SaberCats Stadium just south of town), you won't find another team that interacts with the fans at this level. Soccer is different as a sport, and the team feeds off their home fans like no other sport.  

 Our Supporters Groups's and our players have a real connection. From our Man of the Matchday flag to post-goal celebrations, our Supporters Groups have a huge connection to the game day experience.  The drums, the horns, the songs, and the tireless dancing, the supporters groups of El Betallian, Texian Army, and The Surge have a place for everybody.

Also, we have the greatest TIFO in the North American Continent:


I can promise, there's not another game in town with this sort of atmosphere.

Why this, why now?

For my entire fandom, I've heard all the reasons why people wouldn't go to games:  Lack of investment, lack of a true star, previous ownership made people angry, we don't win enough etc.  Despite Ted Segal coming in and investing heavily in the club, the stadium, and the roster, attendance is declining again.  This team will make the playoffs this year, and they are starting to gel.  Let's get behind our guys and girls, let's get behind our city, let's get behind our team, and just come and see.

Until then

Remember to always #HoldItDown and stay #ForeverOrange

Brian

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Thursday, June 22, 2023

Get out of the Kitchen: Houston Dynamo 4:1 San Jose Earthquakes

 
Dear Houston,

You need to check this out.  Your Houston Dynamo are currently on a masterful run of form.  For the first time in a really long time, they are on a wi(shhhhhhhhhhhh, don't jinx)eak of 4 straight games, thoroughly dominating the opposition along the way to the tune of 13-2.  Winners in 4 of 6, they have navigated the Texas heatwave through June to climb up the table into 4th place in the conference.  They just thrashed the leaders, LAFC, both home and away, and just got done completely dominating San Jose to switch places with them in the standings.  Not only are they dominating, they are doing it because they have gotten better every single week.  They have depth, young exciting players, stars, and a couple of dudes that will be.  Neither rain nor 2-hour lightning delays, nor the blistering Texas heat can deter them from crushing their opponents.  It's time to get behind this team.

Shout out to our SG's

I can't tell you how happy seeing this makes me, and sad that I'm not there with them.  It's not the first time our SG's threw a party during a lightning delay, and it won't be the last.  Our supporters' are as resilient as our team, and this was a beautiful sight.

This game was over in 5 minutes:

 The play was simple.  Bassi had been reading this pass from early on in the game, and it must have been something that was picked up on film.  You could see Bassi cheating the pass between CB's just 20 seconds into the game.  San Jose was too flat, and the triangles between CB's and CM Judson far too acute.  
Bassi recognized it before the pass was even made, and positioned himself where only two steps were needed to snatch this pass.  He took one controlling touch and placed a left footer around keeper Daniel to break this game open after just 2:02 had accumulated on the clock.
The Dynamo press was killing San Jose from the get-go, and Luchi Gonzalez's side was sloppy, disorganized, and now down 1-0.  Bassi's goal celebration of an archer was appropriate because like Robin Hood he stole this and gave the fans a reason to believe.  It was on the next Dynamo possession that they scored again in a beautifully crafted goal built from the back.  Started by a tremendously weighted pass from Bassi to Baby Face Nelson on a full sprint, the goal was a wonderful team goal on many layers.
(1) Quiñones' left-footed cross was pinpoint and well timed.
(2) Baird actually broke off his original near post run when he saw Aliyu making the same run, and got back post.
(3) Aliyu's run took both CB's with him, leaving no one at the back post to cover Baird
(4) Credit to Biard for one-timing this into the back of the net.

It's what you get when you get unselfish and intelligent teamwork.  This goal was the result of everyone doing their job, doing it together, and doing it properly.  Each part, from Steres finding Bassi in the pocket until ending with Baird's finish was done exactly how it was needed to be done, no more and no less, and these types of goals are coming with a much higher amount of regularity than we've seen since we moved from the Rob.

The Dynamo weren't even done.  Despite a few meager attempts to get back into the game by San Jose, #ForeverOrange rocked the entirety of the first 45 minutes.  Erik Svaitchenko nearly got a third with his headed attempt (31st minute) which also was nearly banged home by Micael.  The Dynamo never let down, and even after Charles Akapo's goal to cut it 2-1, there was never really any question that #HellInTheShell was in full force.  Ibrahim Aliyu broke loose only moments after Akapo's goal, and just narrowly missed a left footer after a tremendous downfield pass by Daniel Steres.  At the half, not only were the Dynamo leading 2-1, but they were dominating the game in almost ever statistical category and San Jose was looking gassed. 

The second 45? We put the throttle down.

The second half began with the same as the first half.  As they broke for half, you could see Steve Clark rallying the guys.  I don't know what he said, but I know he was pointing at the crest and getting after it :)  Ben Olsen had his team sitting in a mid-block defending with 2 lines of 4.  Disrupting the midfield and forcing San Jose to attack down the wings, the Dynamo were looking to allow the Earthquake to hold possession in the back line and react quick off turnovers.  This was not a team content with two goals and looking to park the bus. 
There had to be concern, however, when the lightning delay hit in the 62nd minute.  Never knowing how this could disrupt things or rejuvenate a team that was down a goal.  With the stadium emptying out as fans didn't know when the action would return, coming in after a two hour delay with no fans in the stands and up only a goal was worrisome.  But those worries were quickly tossed aside as the Dynamo came directly after San Jose.  Bassi's attempt 66' in was as well crafted as the second goal of the game, with runs, one-touch passing, and a nearly perfect first-touch strike that would up in Daniel's lap.  

Thor: Endgame


I mean, who doesn't love a good Thor reference?  Thor's first goal (a left footed, far post curler) put the game out of reach.  His second one was for show in more ways then one.  With the three points, the Dynamo have now jumped to 4th in the standings, with a game in hand over Seattle (who the Dynamo play July 1st). They're two points off of second and could achieve that on Saturday.  This weekend's game against Green Tree F.C. is one of the biggest games for the Dynamo in years, and could mean an end to the curses of summer that we've seen for the better part of a decade.

Next Up 


Despite all the chest-thumping by the weirdo's in Austin, the Dynamo have won two games against Austin this year pretty convincingly.  The Dynamo should make this a third.

Until then,
Remember to always #HoldItDown and stay #ForeverOrange,
Brian

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Sunday, June 11, 2023

Dynamic Duo: Quinones, Aliyu changing the way this team attacks.


Two young attackers who came with large expectations.  An attack that has greatly struggled and a franchise who has been in the tank for the last three years.  This could be a match made in heaven.  Nelson Quinones came last year on loan during the summer transfer window with a lot of hope he could provide the wide wing play the Dynamo were severely lacking.  Ibrahim Aliyu just got here, but has had an immediate impact on pitch.  When the two have been put together, the results have been staggering.  It's early in the process, but over the last few weeks, the young duo of Nelson Quinones and Ibrahim Aliyu are transforming the Dynamo attack.  

Aliyu's running:

Aliyu is not only keeping the defense honest because of his speed and quickness, but his runs are smart and well-timed.  He's not just running to get behind the defense.  His angular runs often occupy multiple defenders (CB and FB) and leave wholes for Coco, Bassi, and HH behind him.  His runs are not only successful in getting himself behind, but he's drawing enough attention the backside wing is often wide open.  Take Baird's goal against Vancouver for example:

But he can also simply turn on the jets and leave the defense with their pants down.


Also important to note that on the other end of these plays is Coco Carrasquilla.  Coco's final product in the attacking third has been much maligned and highly criticized this year.  But his deep lying playmaking has been heavily on display with Quinones and Aliyu in the starting lineup.  Aliyu's ability to stretch the defense plays into both Coco and HH's strengths, and takes pressure off of them from having to do everything in the attack.  Aliyu is what this club has desperately needed: (1) A fast runner who can repeat those runs extended time on the pitch (2) A guy that can play with the ball at his feet and make things happen.  Take his first touch of the game against Vancouver for example.  He positioned himself in the pocket between center backs, took a touch that snuck between both CB's, muscled both CB's off the ball, cut back to his left foot and blasted one on target.  It's the kind of sheer talent and willpower that reminds of Alberth Elis.  If this team is to have any chance of making the playoffs, and especially making noise once they get there, they have to figure out how to keep him on the field and getting him the ball.

Quinones is bringing both wide play and inverted play.

Baby Face Nelson had an unbelievable week against Chicago and Los Angeles, but his success started back in the 4-0 win vs. Sporting KC in the Open Cup.  Nelson has started three games in the USOC, and has terrorized the left wing during that run. Each time we've seen him this year, he was better than the time before.  He had Ryan Hollingshead in a blender on Saturday night, and relentlessly beat him one on one.  

While his stats on the year are meager, it's the last week that shows what he can be.  He torched Chicago repeatedly, and if that wasn't enough he terrorized the back line of the best team in the league for his entire time on the pitch.  In the last two games, he scored two goals, drew two pens, and is beating players both to the touchline and inside. Against LA, he had 28 touches, was 12/14 passing, won 5/9 duels and had a 50% conversion on his take ons in 63 minutes.  Against Chicago he played all 90, had 27 touches, was 12/13 passing and was 3/7 on ground duels.  While he's still giving the ball away at too high a rate, he's starting to show the end product and danger that we've been lacking. For most of his tenure here he was simply a fast player with no end product, the last two games has shown why they brought him here to begin with.  He's a player that has simply gotten better every time he's gotten on the field, and hopefully we continue to see him through the end of the season.  

When it goes together:

When Aliyu dropped his brace against Chicago in the U.S. Open Cup, it started with a tremendous take on by Nelson Quinones and ended with a well-timed back post cover by Aliyu.  

The last four games these two have been in the starting lineup together? 4-0 (LAFC), 4-1 (Chicago), 4-0 (Minnesota United), and 1-0 (Sporting K.C.)  That's 12 points in 4 games and a scoreline of 13-1.  Add to that a road win in the USOC, and a drubbing of the defending champions and team with the most points per game in the Western Conference, and the results speak for themselves.

Synopsis:

There's enough here to keep Quinones here permanently.  He's part of the MLS U-22 initiative, and Pat Onstad should be working to make his loan deal permanently this summer.   Nelson is explosive and is finding his niche on the right wing.  Aliyu should be the every day, all day #9.  With these two the Dynamo have two dynamic athletes with pace that few backline defenses can keep up with.  They play well off each other, and the results speak for themselves.  The question is who plays with them? (Baird, Bassi, Franco, etc). These two give the attack enough punch to launch the Dynamo into playoff position, especially since they can't be scored on at The Shell.   

Next Up:

 The Dynamo face LAFC on Wednesday, a team in which they have actually faired well against in recent history going 2-2-2 with a +2 GD dating back to 2020.  However, this is a road game on a short week against a team we just played (because MLS completely hosed the Dynamo by moving Wednesday's game there to help LAFC CONCACAF Champions League).
Then, on Saturday the Dynamo return to PNC to play San Jose.




Also, major head nod to this:


Until then:
Thanks again for reading.
Remember to always #HoldItDown and stay #ForeverOrange
Brian

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