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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