Some among you would argue that last week's win versus Colorado was the first vintage Dynamo win because it involved (1) only one goal, (2) which was a [freakin' awesome] header by Ching, (3) from a cross by Davis, (4) coupled with a clean sheet, (5) in a home game, (6) on natural grass. I can't really argue with that list, but that game felt a like it involved a little luck (the cynics among you saying, "That's reason #7!") what with Onstad making several superhuman saves, none more important than the PK and successive point-blank shot.
What I liked about today's game was that we looked more like the aggressor even though we were the visiting team. Sure we were helped by the Revs missing several starters (been there), but even with their starters, Coach Nicol tends to play an ugly anti-soccer anyway. The gaffe by Reis to open up the scoring should have changed the complexion of the game. Usually the visitor bunkers in (New England, I'm looking at you!) and the home team becoms the aggressor. Instead, the Revs didn't get their first shot on goal until two-thirds of the game had passed.
It's good to get successive 3-points. That puts us only 11 points from the conference leaders, Chivas USA. Uh, 11 points back six games in? Oh. Well, at least we're gaining some ground.
Other highlight from the Revs game: seeing Andrew Hainault mesh with the back line to get the clean sheet, and seeing Ade Akinbiyi get some time with the team. Hainault saw more than a half of action and did very well. We didn't see much from Ade, given that he played only 5 minutes; but it was good to see him on the field. He looks strong.
Stadium News
The Chronicle has an article on the latest stadium developments.
This sounds good:
They envision an all-round two-level, all-seater venue with 34 suites, 86 concession point-of-sales, a 3,000 square-foot club level and a party deck on the southeast corner.This doesn't:
Plans also call for at least one canopy (west stands).... The field would be 13 feet below street level. The first seating level would be set on concrete, with aluminum for the upper level.
A slick, intimate, futuristic-looking building with orange accents.I suppose stadium-beggars can't be choosers but I would rather have something architecturally similar to the nearby Minute Maid Park. It would be something timeless that would look contemporary, but with classical, vernacular elements that say "this is part of Houston's roots." Something slick and futuristic soon looks dated and cheap, like the Astrodome or Disney's Tomorrowland. It also looks like a flash-in-the-pan.
Plans also call for ... a stage (permanent or removable) on the south end.
As for the stage, it had better be removable. I want the stadium to look like a stadium and nothing else. It should have wrap-around seating so that there is no place for the opponent to find peace away from the partisan Orange fans. The worst stadium development to happen in the past few years is when the Columbus Crew removed seats to install an ugly, permanent, dead zone so they could bring in a few concerts a year. This is not a soccer-specific stadium; it's a soccer-when-it's-convenient stadium. And it's not what we need or want for Houston.
I speak for all of Houston, by the way.
2 comments:
The Dynamo have had good offensive games and good defensive games, but this was the 1st that had both in the same game.
As for the stadium, the fact that the field will be below street level probably means the stadium won't have any breeze and will be stifling hot in the summer. That's how Pizza Hut Park is, and no one goes to those games.
While the header by Ching last week was magical, the one this week was all skill. I think I actually liked this week's header better because of that.
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