Bad calls and bad bounces (with a sprinkling of poor finishing): Dynamo 2:2 Frisco

One week after PNC Stadium was lit up by fireworks for the 4th of July, fireworks again exploded for over 90 minutes in a near-perfect Texas Derby matchup.  For the neutral, this was a game that had it all.  For #ForeverOrange faithful, the only thing it lacked was all three points.  Both teams saw big plays from key stars, and although it ended in a 2:2 draw the Dynamo were the most dangerous team for most of the match. While (as a fanbase) we are far removed from moral victories, the insertion of Hector Herrera changed the game, the energy of the entire stadium, and brought many of us begging for more.  

*Author's note: Sorry this one is a little long, but there's a lot to cover.

Leading up to the game:

After a near soul-crushing loss to Charlotte F.C. (unless you're @KeepingTabsPod, then your soul is completely crushed), and the news by Pat Onstad that the team wasn't in the market for a big-name winger this window, there was a lot of frustration voiced by many Dynamo Faithful on Twitter. Lots of melancholy exchanges about the nature of this team.  It's almost as if we had forgotten that the biggest acquisition of this year had yet to play a game and was coming.....this window.  There was lots of conjecture, speculation, and armchair coaching over exactly how and where HH should play (which HH basically said he didn't care, he'd play/do whatever), there was a lot of buildup to this game.  The first sell-out since Tab's first game as Coach (2020, vs LAG), the crowd didn't disappoint. It was the biggest crowd we've seen since probably DMB's last game, and they were rowdy.  

The first 45:

The Dynamo came out in a high block press, often in the first 5 minutes of play with all 10 field players in the Frisco half.  With Vera sitting between the CB's, and the backs pushing high (as has been fairly frequent of late), the Dynamo were morphing the 4-3-3 into a 3-4-3 in attack with Coco and Memo connecting the dots and Fafa/DQ drifting inside and running off of Sebas.  #ForeverOrange cracked the first shot (1:30), with Sebas hitting a nice curler to the far post that just went wide after a nice round of quick-hitting combo play from Sebas-Memo-DQ-Sebas.  Fafa's pressure led to a foul deep in enemy territory soon after (2:30), and while Darwin Quintero's free-kick didn't make it past the defence, the Dynamo had come out the aggressor and were chipping holes in Frisco's defence.

Dallas's first threat (4:02) came off the left foot of Paul Arriola's left foot after Alan Velasco found him in the box at the back post on a cross.  Adam Lundkvist, Memo, and Teenage Hadebe had him sandwiched up, and Arriola couldn't get a clean look.  The ball wound up in the Heineken Sports deck.  The run of play went completely the Dynamo way afterwards, as the next 6 shots over the next 20 minutes all went their way.  The Dynamo were controlling possession, maintaining a good shape, and attacking the right side routinely in the opening 20 minutes of play.  Both Zeca and Fafa had multiple long runs down the ride side, but Frisco was doing a good job taking Sebas and DQ out of the final third.  Houston had created 7 chances to Frisco's 1, and had dominated possession (60%-40%) in the early going.  Memo (laser half-volley: 11:01; header of Fafa cross: 20:07; Free-Kick: 23:00) had three tremendous opportunity to break it open. Houston's pressure not only was controlling the run of play but also picked up two Yellows (Matt Hedge's 17th minute; Facundo Quignon 24th minute).

The entire game changed in the 25th minute when Ema Twumasi picked up a ball on the right wing, cut inside, and a ghastly defensive exchange allowed him to dribble 20 yards and fire a shot from inside the 6-yard box without anyone standing in his way.  This seemed to get Dallas going and for the next five minutes, the Dynamo defence made several terrible mistakes. One the ensuing free-kick, a harmless back pass (Teenage) to Steve Clark turned into a goal-scoring opportunity. Clark misread the speed at which Jesus Ferreira was closing him down, and hit a terrible left-footer to Daniel Steres on his right that wasn't even close, and wound up as a corner.  The matchups on the corner were tuff, as Hadebe and Steres were zoned up in front of Steve Clark, which put 5'7" Zeca on 6'4" Matt Hedges.  Hedges, a persistent threat on corners and owner of 18 MLS goals, beat Zeca to the ball and got it into the left corner of the net.  From the time of the Twumasi run to the end of the half, the Dynamo defence looked shaky and poorly organized, and more mistakes were coming.  Luckily the Dynamo got out of the half only down 1-0 as FC Dallas closed out the half with the final 4 shots.  

Hector Herrera subs on:

Instantly changed the game.  It was obvious from the second he stepped on the field.  Not only did the energy of the stadium and supporters change, you could see the energy of the players change as well.  Herrera flashed that pesky midfield presence, perfect deep ball touch, and added just a pinch of intimidation (plowing Matt Hedges for a ball in the box).  Herrera completely controlled the midfield for every second he was on the field, and opened up space for everyone else.  The Dynamo should have won this game, and the entire team looked better than we've seen them since LAG while he was on the field, and that was without Sebas.  Herrera hit 5/5 on deep balls, was playing it beautifully over the top, and had no problem holding possession against FC Dallas' midfield.  When Dallas defenders got too close while he had the ball, he was never in a hurry, always poised, and simply said "Here's a shoulder in your chest, now back up and give me some space please".    His cross that Teenage threw a flying scissor kick at was the best cross of any player we've had here in quite sometime (imagine Sebas on the other end of that instead). 

Over the final 30+ minutes of play, the Dynamo produced more shots (11:4), held more possession (65%:35%) more corners (6:0) and passing efficiency (91%:71%) than Blue Bulls FC. Fafa began to really threaten in a way we hadn't seen all year as he was free to do what Fafa does: run.  "Slow Feet Don't Eat" was making runs down both sides, getting in behind, and his cut back inside after a great run down the left side (68:04) led to a shot on target and a corner.  That corner produced the games first goal (Thor: 68:58) started by Herrera's cross.

The goal that was, then wasn't:

No VAR was used, so y'all make the call... pic.twitter.com/dCN38LSX6J

— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) July 10, 2022

It's literally unthinkable that (1) this goal was overturned by the linesman. (2) VAR didn't intervene.  I've seen a lot of speculation on here about why it was not allowed, so let me just go straight to the sources.  MLS.com  states: Major League Soccer is affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) and as such has its Game officials assigned by U.S. Soccer, which also has the responsibility for education, training and the assessment of officials according to FIFA requirements.

FIFA continues to modify the rules of soccer as the game changes due to developments of coaching tactics and strategies; improvements in equipment; increases in the size, strength and speed of the players and, most importantly, developments in playing skill. Most recently, changes have been made to limit the activities of goalkeepers, decrease delaying tactics and modify the interpretation of the offside rule to further promote attacking soccer.

FIFA's offsides rule (sorry this is long, but I wanted to post it in it's entirety):

1. Offside position

It is not an offence to be in an offside position.

A player is in an offside position if:

• any part of the head, body or feet is in the opponents’ half (excluding the halfway line) and
• any part of the head, body or feet is nearer to the opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent
• The hands and arms of all players, including the goalkeepers, are not considered. For the purposes of determining offside, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.
• A player is not in an offside position if level with the:
• second-last opponent or
• last two opponents

2. Offside offence

A player in an offside position at the moment the ball is played or touched* by a team-mate is only penalised on becoming involved in active play by:

• interfering with play by playing or touching a ball passed or touched by a team-mate or
• interfering with an opponent by:
• preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or
• challenging an opponent for the ball or
• clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent or
• making an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball

or

• gaining an advantage by playing the ball or interfering with an opponent when it has:
• rebounded or been deflected off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent
• been deliberately saved by any opponent
• A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent. 
  
  
  

*A ‘save’ is when a player stops, or attempts to stop, a ball which is going into or very close to the goal with any part of the body except the hands/arms (unless the goalkeeper within the penalty area).

In situations where:

• a player moving from, or standing in, an offside position is in the way of an opponent and interferes with the movement of the opponent towards the ball this is an offside offence if it impacts on the ability of the opponent to play or challenge for the ball; if the player moves into the way of an opponent and impedes the opponent's progress (e.g blocks the opponent) the offence should be penalised under Law 12
• a player in an offside position is moving towards the ball with the intention of playing the ball and is fouled before playing or attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball, the foul is penalised as it has occurred before the offside offence
• an offence is committed against a player in an offside position who is already playing or attempting to play the ball, or challenging an opponent for the ball, the offside offence is penalised as it has occurred before the foul challenge
• *The first point of contact of the 'play' or 'touch' of the ball should be used

I'm 100% confident the linesman called this offside on either Steres or Fafa. You can see during the conversation he was saying someone was a smidge off.  

On the pass, everyone is onsides. Junqua, who is behind Hadebe and heads it in, is clearly onsides.

Fafa, who was off by the time Junqua touched it, made no attempt to play the ball and was onside when the initial pass was made.  The best we can hope for is an explanation, but we won't get one.  This has been a frustrating year when it comes to this as we've lost points multiple times due to goals being waved off on horrendous calls with no VAR use, or VAR deems it not even worthy to be reviewed by the lead official.  MLS has to do better. This league is plagued by terrible officiating and horrendous VAR use.  It's not just in Dynamo games, it's in multiple games across the league every single match day.  It's the a black eye on the league currently, and one they can't wait until the offseason to address.  If we want to wear big boy pants as a league, MLS has to do something about their officiating.  

The final stretch.

The Dynamo had multiple chances to end this game.  Coco's chance in the 76th minute (which was a beautiful save by Maarten Paes), the phantom offsides call, Fafa's run in behind and chipper that went just left of the far post, this could have easily been a run away.  But instead, it's 1:1 with an unheard of 12 minutes of added time.  When Ferriera scored, it was a combination of a really good hustle play by him and an unfortunate nick of Hadebe's back heel. As the Dynamo tried to grind back, Dallas just packed it in and sat deep.  Jesus Ferreira should have made it 3-1 in the 99th minute after Steve Clark did his best Marco Maric impression and cleared a ball right to Ferreira, who was all by himself 30 yards in front of goal. Clark recovered and redeemed himself to keep it 2-1.  

Literally seconds later after HH tracked this ball down and got it back in FC Dallas' half, the ball found the feet of Darwin Quintero just inside the attacking third.  With Dallas dropping back, Darwin took two big touches and fired the ball towards goal.

The shot took a deflection off José Antonio Martínez Gil's knee, forcing Paes to dive back to the near post and try to punch it away.

Both of the backside defenders trotted to the ball, and Teenage (who's not even in this screenshot) didn't to race past everyone and plunk it in the back of the net securing the point.  It was the latest goal ever scored from open play in MLS history, and the end of a wild game. 

Final Thoughts:

• With Austin FC on Tuesday, and San Jose on Sunday, it'll be interesting to see how HH gets incorporated in the midfield and how the squad is rotated over this week.  Nagamura is beginning to get some viable depth on the back line and in the midfield, and Thor is really coming on of late.  Now if we can just get those wings going........
• Saturday was a tuff game for Sebastian Ferreira. Sebas only managed 20 touches over 57 minutes, and his 1 touch inside the penalty area came 1:30 into the game.  Dallas bottled him up fairly well and took him out of the game, and Sebas was having to drop deeper just to get involved in the attack.  With Austin looming right around the corner, he was subbed off in the 57th minute.  
• I loved the atmosphere in this game.  Loved it.  WE NEED THIS EVERY GAME, and we can still crank it up several notches.  We need to get EVERYONE behind the songs our SG's sing, we need chants we all yell.  To everyone who showed up, thank you.  When I first watched this game, there were things I was cringing at (admittedly), but upon watching again I get it.  To the FC Dallas fans that will read this post and inevitably leave really poor comments on it, read this.  Your player (Obrian) threw a punch at our player's (Vera) head and didn't even get a warning.  Your coach flipped off our supporters' section after we just got robbed of a goal, and your player got off Scott Free throwing a punch in a game.  If you're going to throw accusations around, try addressing your own instigators first.  That might be hard for you to do since Dallas' fanbase doesn't seem to be able to comprehend that actions of disrespect are often met with disrespect.
• While I've always said, and I still don't think HH is enough to get us above the playoff line this year, it's mostly because of where we sit and how many games we have left.  We are actually better than I thought we'd be, because even after signing Sebas I thought we'd be bottom of the table right now, trying to climb out when HH got here. There's no question we've played and looked better on the field this season, and we'll see more growth with HH immediately.  He's going to neutralize presses (Think D.C. United) and control the midfield.  He'll get the ball to DQ, Coco, and Sebas in better positions more regularly.  HH can actually hit Fafa in stride on a sprint.  Now if we can just get 1-2 explosive attackers next winter we'll be where we need to be.  If we can find a young diamond in this window, we could compete already.  This team has to start finding the back of the net with more regularity.  With the way Fafa looked with HH on the field, it could get real exciting real quick around here.
  
  

Lastly

Tuesday night vs Green Tree FC, we're bringing home 3 points.  Mark it down.

Thanks again for reading,

Remember to always #HoldItDown and stay #ForeverOrange,

Brian