Dynamo battered by Battery

Well, we see that MLS Reserves can compete versus a top-tier USL team, but they cannot beat a top-tier USL team. Dynamo-R were the second best team in the first half. They managed to improve their play in the second half and, 15 minutes after the Battery went down to 10 men, Dynamo-R managed to find an equalizer. After the Battery went down to 9 men, Dynamo-R were out of creative ideas and the 11 only managed to give about as much as they got from the 9. That's nothing to be proud about.

Yes, this was the Dynamo-R, not the Dynamo. I'm completely fine with that choice of personnel. A reserve squad losing to a good USL team in PKs is completely understandable. Losing to a 9-man team (who still looked like they could score with those 9 men)? That's a sign that our Reserves have a lot of maturing to do. I also can't help but wonder why The Dom didn't make the moves in extra time that could have taken advantage of the 2-man advantage and prevent going to PKs. I believe the US Open Cup allows a lot more than the traditional 3 substitutes.

Once the PKs start, the result becomes a crapshoot. And, unfortunately, the USL players were the ones who looked confident and composed when taking their kicks. The Dynamo-R did not. That is completely unacceptable for an MLS club.

How did New England Revolution (who schooled us in our two meetings this year) fare with their reserve squad? They beat the Richmond Kickers 3-0. Taylor Twellman (just off injured reserve) and (maybe) Kenny Mansally are the only names you'd probably recognize on that reserve squad, yet they managed to take care of business.

All in all, a very disappointing indictment of the status of the Dynamo Club and the Club's development system. Let's hope a good result comes on Thursday to wash the bitter taste of this result out of our mouth. Without the possibility of winning the US Open Cup (and we're not even sniffing distance from the Supporters' Shield), we'll need to win the MLS Cup or come in second in the MLS Cup if we wish to compete in next year's CONCACAF Champions League. Slowly but surely, we're trimming our options by losing key matches. Being destroyed in the Pan-Pacific final, losing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, embarrassed in the league opener, held winless through the month of April and being the last team to record its first win, losing El Capitan, losing to a 9-man squad in the US Open Cup...it's time for the MIO to man up and succeed at something this season. And quickly.

Hmm. I guess I'm bitter.

Addendum, the morning after...
First of all, I'm less bitter, but still bitter.

Here is the official recap of the game and an anecdotal recap of the game. Charleston used four subs, the Dynamo used a paltry two. "Paltry" because you are allowed more than the typical three in the US Open Cup, and the MIO-R had played 120 minutes.

The Chronicle has its own post-game article. The Battery again had more juice than the Dynamo.

Another ESPN match for the Dynamo tomorrow, so Soccernet has a preview of the game vs RSL. Houston hasn't been horrible in the season's first three months. In fact, the team is tied for the fewest losses in MLS. But the Dynamo have found it difficult to beat teams, and their league-high seven draws have meant that the defending champs have gone sideways for much of the season.

Go Dynamo!