The Dynamo let 2 points slip through their fingers last night. Twice. As the only winless team in the MLS, our draws have kept us tied with DC United and San Jose for last place. We're behind Toronto, RSL, Colorado, and Columbus, among others. That's pretty embarrassing, but the season is young and I still don't see us being out of the top 8 teams that make it to the MLS Cup post-season tourney. That Supporters' Shield thing might be a long shot though.
The play of the game last night: Caraccio's excellent hustle in the 17th minute to win the ball from an onrushing Cronin and send a perfect slow-rolling cross across the face of an empty goal. Only, there were no other forwards or midfielders pushed up in the center where they might be, you know, dangerous. Where was Ching? Where was DeRo? As slow as that ball was rolling, the indefatigable Barrett could have sprinted the length of the field in time to tap it in. 2-0 at halftime, but it wasn't to be.
Thank you Caraccio for being the most dangerous Orangeman on the pitch last night, at least in the attacking third. Besides that beautiful play, you touched a perfect pass to Ching in the 2nd half that Ching fired straight at the keeper. You also had the game-winning and then game-tying goal with 11 minute remaining.
If we could have stuck one person, say Barrett, on Donovan and taken him completely out of the game, then played 10v10 with the rest of the two teams, we win the game. Becks is good, but if no one is at the end of his crosses no one scores, and Lan-Don is the only one who can feed Becks balls that he could score with.
Unfortunately, Donovan-Becks can beat any MLS team if given the chance, and we gave them the chance by not finishing our opportunities and not closing down one of the two dynamic duo on two occasions.
A side piece on Donovan: he's is a talent, no doubt; perhaps the best American on the pitch at the moment. But the older he gets, the whinier and more classless he gets. The foul he tried to draw by running into Ianni was comical; something he picked up from his teammate Ruiz I'm sure. The claim that he (and Becks in postgame comments) makes that the ball went over the line when Ianni headed it off the line, well that is poor gamesmanship which is understandable when it's said at the instance of occurance, but to keep the lie up after the match is pure scumbaggery. (Not a word, but it should be.)
As for the game, the first half showed how we are still the class of the league. The second half showed that we need to be quicker to adjust to our opponents' adjustments and keep the foot to their throat. When we have a makeshift defense/goal tender, we need to score often to give the defense a comfort zone as they gain their chemistry.
I don't blame the defense or Caig for this loss; all credit goes to the skill of Donovan, particularly on the first goal.
I do blame Ching for not being where he should be in the 17th minute.
Media roundup:
The Chronicle Recap
Another MLS article.
More later...
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4 comments:
Ching blew it when given the chance. He didn't do much to help create other chances. He whiffed on the ball that Davis hit in. He's been a big disappointment this year. He did have the shot off the crossbar that Caraccio hit in, so I will give him that.
Caig should have intercepted the Becks pass to Landy on the 2nd goal. The ball shouldnt have gotten to Landy if Caig could decide what to do quicker. He had other times that he looked hesitant, but had lots of good stops too. I want Onstad back. Onstad isn't declining much with age. Ching may be tho.
Wade, if you have the ball at your feet and a clear shot on goal and your inside the 18yd box, shootdeball!! Dont dribble!! That didnt cost us the game, but that sort of play happens everywhere on this team and it adds up to lost points!!
Ching is not the same player he was two years ago - I believe last Sunday I made the same comment after the KC game and it holds today. He still has some holdup play and post moves going for him but other than that his explosion is gone and he is not finishing with his head. I can't tell whether the injuries have taken their toll or it is a fitness issue but he is not running either as hard or for as long as he previously did.
One thing that Ngwenya and Jaqua did well that was not noticed my many was the pressure they put on the back lines when defending. They constantly ran after defenders and made it tougher to get the ball out of the back. Ching is walking around out there most of the game.
Davis and Mullan back at near full strength makes a huge difference in the Dynamo. Caig had a solid game but still gives me some nervous moments.
Agreed about your Landon comments, he looked classless at times. I thought it was crappy the way he shouted in Ianni's face after the first goal--no way he does that to E-Rob and survives! Equally, Ianni's cowering didn't do him in any favors. Still, he is young but he needs to build confidence. Quick.
Bobo (as you affectionately called him recently) had his best game as a Dynamo, IMHO. Wade handled Becks well up until that second goal.
After Carracio was subbed, Ching looked a little (miniscule) better but he is lacking the finishing. What has happened to our big man?
By far, the best game we've had even in spite of the loss.
It seems like ages since our last home game...I'm really looking forward to May 3rd!
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