The lack of blogging isn't due to my lack of attention to the world of soccer. On the contrary, so much has been going on (in the MLS, World Cup Qualifying, and my efforts to be a decent coach for my son's youth team), that I haven't made time to write.
But here I am. Since my last writing, the Dynamo have been very active.
They beat Colorado in Denver (Recap) behind 2 goals from Ching (he had a saved PK that would've given him the hat trick) and a sweet shot from afar by Rico. The win ensured the Dynamo clinched a playoff spot.
Midweek, in CONCACAF play, DeRo earned 3 points for the Orange with a brilliant game winner in the 88th minute. (Recap.) It looked like San Francisco FC of Panama was going to escape from Houston with a point. It would have been unjust, but poor finishing was killing the MIO. (We had 20 shots to Fr'isco's 6.) The night saw several young guns making their mark. Corey Ashe had perhaps his best game ever as he tore up the left flank and showed strong runs and solid crosses. Caig was a surprise starter in goal, and his poor positioning off his line (in yet another match) allowed the Panamanians to equalize early in the 2nd half with an outstanding lob. Chabala did well at right back, but could stand some practice making crosses when his legs are tired late. Wondo had a goal and nearly another (a chip that hit the post, and then the followup went wide as it was borne of frustration than of steely intent to finish). Kyle Brown was a surprising sub. But the game changed when the veteran, DeRo, came in at the 78th minute. He energized the team and seemed to make things happen.
His goal was good in and of itself, but what he did to get himself into that position is what was truly amazing. In the 88th minute, a long pass by Barrett to DeRo was intercepted and the ball ended up at Blanco's feet (no, not THE Blanco). Blanco began dribbling towards the halfway line, but DeRo came up from behind, deftly stepped between Blanco and the ball, and cleanly stole away and reversed course. Given time and space on the fringe of the attacking third, DeRo was like a kid at Christmas and unleashed a bending rocket that flat-footed the goalkeeper and iced the game. DeRo had been in the game all of 10 minutes.
Later in the week, the US Men's Team booked passage into the next round of WCQ with an easy win over an overmatched (and undermanned) Cuba. (Recap.) I feel for the Cuban players. Ching scored a goal after the match had already been decided. (His goal was a header of a Kljestan cross that Ching knocked in...but he was in a gaggle with 2 other US players so it would have been knocked in had Ching not been at the vanguard of the group). The most exciting part of the match for me was the introduction of José Francisco Torres of Pachuca into the USMNT rotation. (Quotes.) Maybe it's just pie-eyed dreams, but I hope that Torres is part of the future that builds a better technically skilled and creative USMNT culture. A guy can dream.
Ives has some observations about the game. Ives also had a good treatise on the worth Ching brings to the USMNT. The article is followed by amusing drivel -- for the most part -- chundered by the blogging community. It's amusing partly because the comments are so predictable, and partly because they are naive for the most part. As one matures, one realizes that there is not just one kind of forward, but many types that have value depending on the system and the team. Ching simply makes the players around him more productive. In other words: Ching makes the team better. That's a good thing. 'Nuff said.
Tonight, the week finished with a boring scoreless draw between a mediocre DC United team and a Dynamo team bereft of ideas. (Recap.) The result earned the Columbus Crew the Supporters' Shield.
The MIO wore all-white tonight as part of a charity effort to help raise funds as part of the reconstruction after Hurricane Ike. The team also honored first responders and their role in helping with the storm recovery.
The game was filled with half-chances. Geoff Cameron was an early 2nd half sub despite being listed as "Out" due to hamstring issues. He came in for Holden who knocked heads in the DC penalty box and got a golf-ball size lump on his forehead...yikes! Ashe was the other sub. He came on with only 10 minutes remaining, so it took him a while to get into the groove, but once he got into a rhythm, he delivered some nice crosses from the left.
It's been a long month for the Dynamo, but the traveling is over for the time being. Hopefully the MIO can re-energize themselves, recapture the (healthy) passion (not the anger-management-issue-laden passion that ERob shows before drawing needless Yellows), and do what needs to be done to get the third consecutive MLS Cup.
Go Dynamo!
Showing posts with label DCU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DCU. Show all posts
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Three points from the four-day match
Well, THAT was probably the strangest match of the season. (Game recap. Quotes.) Dynamo-Houston went to DC on June 4 to begin the match (abandoned after 15 minutes), then was hours away from restarting the match on July 22, then finally began the replayed match on July 23 and finished it in the wee hours of July 24.
I worried when I read on B-Fall's blog that the officials were going to restart the match at 10:40 after the 3 hour rain delay. At that point, up 1-0 and having dominated the match, Dynamo-H had nowhere to go but down. Three points in hand couldn't get any better. The break could have broken their rhythm. The puddles could ruin their passing game.
Luckily, the Dynamo still were the better team. DCU had two (three?) extremely scary, possibly game-changing shots on goal that Onstad managed to snuff out, but other than that, it was all Dynamo.
Dude: 23 shots to 4. That is total domination. Yet, if Ching hadn't gotten that insurance goal, or if Onstad hadn't been clutch, all those shots wouldn't have given us the points we deserved. Hats off to Onstad, Cameron, Mullan, Davis, and Ching for earning us the points. Others were able to create the domination on the field of course, but it was those five that managed to turn our advantage to points. DeRo was instrumental in the game, the midfield completely shut down the passing lanes and managed the transitions extremely well, and our defense were the aggressors on the ball. Nice job all around, but a special tip o' the hat to those who saved goals and made or assisted on goals.
DeRo had some near-gimmees in the first half, but Zach Wells or a defender's ill-placed extremity seemed to always deny the Canadian Creator. We need DeRo to unleash the dogs of war and net these opportunities when they arise in our upcoming SuperLiga matches and the remaining MLS league games. DeRo will create those opportunities -- he's a master at that -- we just need him to get his finishing mojo back.
The bad news from the match: our next game will be without our two attacking mids: DeRo (card accumulation) and Holden (Olympics). We will also be without ERob most likely (injury) and his understudy, Ianni (Olympics). We will have Rico back. Kinnear has a lot of options, thankfully, but he will have to be creative. And he won't have his first choices at several key positions.
Tonight Onstad and DeRo are to play in the All-Star Game, the same day that they finished their match in DC. I won't be surprised if we don't see either player on the field tonight.
Now it's back to SuperLiga for a bit. I want to beat Pachuca so badly and I want that SuperLiga trophy. Why? Mainly because the odds of winning the MLS Cup are slim so you want to take the silverware that's immediately available. Also because I do not want the plodding Revolution to take it. I'm rooting against them in the US Open Cup too. It grates on me that they're the leader for the Supporters' Shield -- I don't want their style of play to be rewarded. They have too much talent to play the crappy game they play. Yet that talent is compensating for -- and, more irritatingly, justifying -- Stevie Nicols' unimaginative leadership.
Go Dynamo!
I worried when I read on B-Fall's blog that the officials were going to restart the match at 10:40 after the 3 hour rain delay. At that point, up 1-0 and having dominated the match, Dynamo-H had nowhere to go but down. Three points in hand couldn't get any better. The break could have broken their rhythm. The puddles could ruin their passing game.
Luckily, the Dynamo still were the better team. DCU had two (three?) extremely scary, possibly game-changing shots on goal that Onstad managed to snuff out, but other than that, it was all Dynamo.
Dude: 23 shots to 4. That is total domination. Yet, if Ching hadn't gotten that insurance goal, or if Onstad hadn't been clutch, all those shots wouldn't have given us the points we deserved. Hats off to Onstad, Cameron, Mullan, Davis, and Ching for earning us the points. Others were able to create the domination on the field of course, but it was those five that managed to turn our advantage to points. DeRo was instrumental in the game, the midfield completely shut down the passing lanes and managed the transitions extremely well, and our defense were the aggressors on the ball. Nice job all around, but a special tip o' the hat to those who saved goals and made or assisted on goals.
DeRo had some near-gimmees in the first half, but Zach Wells or a defender's ill-placed extremity seemed to always deny the Canadian Creator. We need DeRo to unleash the dogs of war and net these opportunities when they arise in our upcoming SuperLiga matches and the remaining MLS league games. DeRo will create those opportunities -- he's a master at that -- we just need him to get his finishing mojo back.
The bad news from the match: our next game will be without our two attacking mids: DeRo (card accumulation) and Holden (Olympics). We will also be without ERob most likely (injury) and his understudy, Ianni (Olympics). We will have Rico back. Kinnear has a lot of options, thankfully, but he will have to be creative. And he won't have his first choices at several key positions.
Tonight Onstad and DeRo are to play in the All-Star Game, the same day that they finished their match in DC. I won't be surprised if we don't see either player on the field tonight.
Now it's back to SuperLiga for a bit. I want to beat Pachuca so badly and I want that SuperLiga trophy. Why? Mainly because the odds of winning the MLS Cup are slim so you want to take the silverware that's immediately available. Also because I do not want the plodding Revolution to take it. I'm rooting against them in the US Open Cup too. It grates on me that they're the leader for the Supporters' Shield -- I don't want their style of play to be rewarded. They have too much talent to play the crappy game they play. Yet that talent is compensating for -- and, more irritatingly, justifying -- Stevie Nicols' unimaginative leadership.
Go Dynamo!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
SuperLiga - On to the Semis
A nice win yesterday in DC puts us into the Semis of the SuperLiga. (Game recap.) DC looked to be saving their effort for the MLS matchup on Tuesday, and started subbing players early. The odd part was that once their key players were pulled, DC began to look more dangerous and get more opportunities on our goal. I don't know if this was due to us easing up a bit once we realized that DC was capitulating, or if the effort was doubled by DC as players fought hard to make an impression on the coach so that one day THEY'd be the starters.
After Doe halved the deficit, I felt quite nervous that they'd at least tie up the game. Onstad wasn't as crisp as he usually was, although he made the saves when he had to. Our attack had dwindled as well.
Then the beautiful combination of a steal by Waibel, forward pass across the halfway line to Wondo, one-touch drop to Ching, through ball to a running Holden who touches the ball once with the outside of his right foot, then uses his right instep to slam the ball past Zach Wells from about 18 yards out. When I grow up, I want to be Stuart Holden.
Another match versus DC comes this Tuesday. I imagine it'll be difficult to beat the same team twice in a row at their home field, but that's what we need to do to make headway in the league. At least there's no travel in between games. Afterwards, Onstad and DeRo will have to trek to Toronto for the All-Star match up on Thursday, then it's back to SuperLiga. We should know who we face (and where) after tonight's matches.
Go Dynamo!
After Doe halved the deficit, I felt quite nervous that they'd at least tie up the game. Onstad wasn't as crisp as he usually was, although he made the saves when he had to. Our attack had dwindled as well.
Then the beautiful combination of a steal by Waibel, forward pass across the halfway line to Wondo, one-touch drop to Ching, through ball to a running Holden who touches the ball once with the outside of his right foot, then uses his right instep to slam the ball past Zach Wells from about 18 yards out. When I grow up, I want to be Stuart Holden.
Another match versus DC comes this Tuesday. I imagine it'll be difficult to beat the same team twice in a row at their home field, but that's what we need to do to make headway in the league. At least there's no travel in between games. Afterwards, Onstad and DeRo will have to trek to Toronto for the All-Star match up on Thursday, then it's back to SuperLiga. We should know who we face (and where) after tonight's matches.
Go Dynamo!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
SuperLiga-Final Group Stage Match
Tonight the Dynamo face DC United in a do-or-go-home match. The good news is that we have DeRo, Ching, and ERob back in the lineup; but will Ching and ERob be match fit after their injury? We also have Ianni and (most importantly) Holden for the two DCU matches before they traipse off to the Olympics in search of honor and glory. We also have Nate Jaqua, though I doubt he sees action. Maybe in our Tuesday DCU replay.
We won't have Caraccio anymore. That's a shame, but understandable given the limitations on salaries and personnel set by the League. Buena suerte, Caraccio! (I took French, not Spanish, in school, so forgive any solecism.) I know you'll find a club that suits you well.
(The same day, LA released Abel Xavier.)
Winning tonight's match is vital, but B-Fall has all of the different scenarios of winners and losers mapped out in his blog.
There's been more coverage of the Dynamo's fight on behalf of all MLS players to get better compensation from tournament purses. Or at least to allow clubs to decide what is fair for their own players. Sounds reasonable. B-Fall has an article on the imbroglio. That MLS would prevent a team from voluntary striking bonus deals with players for this type of tournament can also hurt a team like the Dynamo, who could use the incentive to entice a player to sign with the team. ESPN has an article as well.The Dynamo case could set a precedent. If an arbitrator rules in favor of Dynamo players, each MLS team could be allowed to determine payouts to players for tournaments. This certainly challenges the single-entity system and could become a milestone decision.
In other soccer news, some of the New England Revs' staff are keeping the skies safe. Certainly a timely move by the MLS club members. Even off the field the club can effectively kill any offensive environment; sometimes it is not only easier, but better, to destroy than to create.
We won't have Caraccio anymore. That's a shame, but understandable given the limitations on salaries and personnel set by the League. Buena suerte, Caraccio! (I took French, not Spanish, in school, so forgive any solecism.) I know you'll find a club that suits you well.
(The same day, LA released Abel Xavier.)
Winning tonight's match is vital, but B-Fall has all of the different scenarios of winners and losers mapped out in his blog.
There's been more coverage of the Dynamo's fight on behalf of all MLS players to get better compensation from tournament purses. Or at least to allow clubs to decide what is fair for their own players. Sounds reasonable. B-Fall has an article on the imbroglio. That MLS would prevent a team from voluntary striking bonus deals with players for this type of tournament can also hurt a team like the Dynamo, who could use the incentive to entice a player to sign with the team. ESPN has an article as well.The Dynamo case could set a precedent. If an arbitrator rules in favor of Dynamo players, each MLS team could be allowed to determine payouts to players for tournaments. This certainly challenges the single-entity system and could become a milestone decision.
In other soccer news, some of the New England Revs' staff are keeping the skies safe. Certainly a timely move by the MLS club members. Even off the field the club can effectively kill any offensive environment; sometimes it is not only easier, but better, to destroy than to create.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Hosting the fighting Torontonians
On Sunday, Dynamo face Toronto FC. (Game preview.) We've never beaten the Canucks. Maybe it would be more accurate to say "we've never beaten Toronto FC" because we fielded as many or more Canucks than they fielded, so maybe we weren't really playing Canucks at all. Maybe we're the Canucks.
Anyway, last year Toronto was a doormat, so we naturally lost to them in Toronto and tied them in a scoreless draw here in Houston when they had to play with 10 men for more than half the match. This year Toronto is playing some good ball, which means they're a better team, which means we're more likely to get a point or 3 off of them.
Don't know if Dichio will be playing. He's listed as questionable. Edu and Guevara won't play as both are with their respective national teams. That's a good thing. Just about everyone is back to healthy again on the Orange side, although E-Rob will be out because of the league-imposed special punishment for "fouling while wearing orange."
On Sunday, Toronto might have problems with our 12th man: the humidity. It could kill their attacking spirit, particularly if Dichio isn't playing. Still, the next goal we score against them will be the first goal we score against them.
Kersten Mullan's story
Did you catch B-Fall's article on why Mr. and Mrs. Mullan are strong supporters of the Ronald McDonald House? It's a good story and a good charity.
DC trip half a success.
Well, the DC game wasrained monsooned out on Wednesday, but the team was still able to visit the White House. Ching said, "It's always a very special honor to meet the President. I can't wait to get up there and shake his hand again." Oliver Luck blogs about it too. "This trip was anything but 'been there, done that.'"
Anyway, last year Toronto was a doormat, so we naturally lost to them in Toronto and tied them in a scoreless draw here in Houston when they had to play with 10 men for more than half the match. This year Toronto is playing some good ball, which means they're a better team, which means we're more likely to get a point or 3 off of them.
Don't know if Dichio will be playing. He's listed as questionable. Edu and Guevara won't play as both are with their respective national teams. That's a good thing. Just about everyone is back to healthy again on the Orange side, although E-Rob will be out because of the league-imposed special punishment for "fouling while wearing orange."
On Sunday, Toronto might have problems with our 12th man: the humidity. It could kill their attacking spirit, particularly if Dichio isn't playing. Still, the next goal we score against them will be the first goal we score against them.
Kersten Mullan's story
Did you catch B-Fall's article on why Mr. and Mrs. Mullan are strong supporters of the Ronald McDonald House? It's a good story and a good charity.
DC trip half a success.
Well, the DC game was
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
A wonderful vacation story
I get tired of hearing about people's trips to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Europe, blah, blah blah. BO-ring! I know how to vacation. Here's my story. Don't get jealous!
The excitement begins yesterday. We have no air conditioning downstairs. The second story (where the bedrooms are) is quite comfortable. The ground floor (where everything else is): not so much. We call our friendly a/c repairman and he says he can come over at 8:30 AM today. I tell my boss I'm going to take a vacation day, get the air conditioning fixed, repair my fence gate latch at the same time, have a nice lunch somewhere with my wife, do something fun with the kids in the afternoon, watch the US take on Spain, then finish the day watching the Dynamo get their first victory in DC.
At 9:00 AM no repairman, so I call him. He's crazy busy, can he come later? Sure.
I spend the entire morning working on the gate. It takes the entire morning because I suck at basic carpentry. The only home repair technique I have mastered is basic profanity. I am sticky and not a little bit stinky. Still no a/c man, so I clean up my garage. A little. I still can't park either car in it. I am stickier and stinkier.
One o'clock and no repairman. I run quickly to Burger King and get a pre-processed burger to take home and scarf down.
Repairman comes at 2:30. He leaves at 2:40 to get the part he needs. He returns at 3:15. Air conditioner is fixed at 4:45. House is cool. I am poor. I have completely forgotten about the US game.
It's 5:30, so we call in wings from Wing Stop and we return with them just in time to see the pre-game. It's raining in DC. Ching won't play due to a hamstring issue. Lighting. They stop the pre-game and go to movie previews. Then at 7 they go to the game. The field is wet. People are flopping everywhere. The ball doesn't move. The ball doesn't roll. The ball can barely even be pushed. It can fly through the air okay though.
The picture goes out and Charlie Pallilo goes into radio game-play mode. He does a fine job. The picture returns in time to see the teams walking to the bench then to the locker room. Everything is wet.
Reno 911 comes on. Then some stupid sitcoms. Then B-Fall reports the game is canceled.
This vacation day just sucked from beginning to end. I am poorer than when I began. I am less rested. I didn't get to go to the Caribbean, Hawaii, or Europe -- just to blah. I am just plain irritable.
But at least I'm cool. And at least the Dynamo didn't lose. TGFSF.
The excitement begins yesterday. We have no air conditioning downstairs. The second story (where the bedrooms are) is quite comfortable. The ground floor (where everything else is): not so much. We call our friendly a/c repairman and he says he can come over at 8:30 AM today. I tell my boss I'm going to take a vacation day, get the air conditioning fixed, repair my fence gate latch at the same time, have a nice lunch somewhere with my wife, do something fun with the kids in the afternoon, watch the US take on Spain, then finish the day watching the Dynamo get their first victory in DC.
At 9:00 AM no repairman, so I call him. He's crazy busy, can he come later? Sure.
I spend the entire morning working on the gate. It takes the entire morning because I suck at basic carpentry. The only home repair technique I have mastered is basic profanity. I am sticky and not a little bit stinky. Still no a/c man, so I clean up my garage. A little. I still can't park either car in it. I am stickier and stinkier.
One o'clock and no repairman. I run quickly to Burger King and get a pre-processed burger to take home and scarf down.
Repairman comes at 2:30. He leaves at 2:40 to get the part he needs. He returns at 3:15. Air conditioner is fixed at 4:45. House is cool. I am poor. I have completely forgotten about the US game.
It's 5:30, so we call in wings from Wing Stop and we return with them just in time to see the pre-game. It's raining in DC. Ching won't play due to a hamstring issue. Lighting. They stop the pre-game and go to movie previews. Then at 7 they go to the game. The field is wet. People are flopping everywhere. The ball doesn't move. The ball doesn't roll. The ball can barely even be pushed. It can fly through the air okay though.
The picture goes out and Charlie Pallilo goes into radio game-play mode. He does a fine job. The picture returns in time to see the teams walking to the bench then to the locker room. Everything is wet.
Reno 911 comes on. Then some stupid sitcoms. Then B-Fall reports the game is canceled.
This vacation day just sucked from beginning to end. I am poorer than when I began. I am less rested. I didn't get to go to the Caribbean, Hawaii, or Europe -- just to blah. I am just plain irritable.
But at least I'm cool. And at least the Dynamo didn't lose. TGFSF.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
The Dynamo Machine Keeps Plugging Away
The Dynamo-Houston defense lived up to its billing and got its fifth straight clean sheet. We only got ourselves one goal, but it was all we needed.
The goal wasn't pretty by any stretch. After DC cleared one of our corners, the ball ended up with Mulrooney, who took a little long in my eager mind to decide to shoot, but shoot he did. The ball got stopped in the crowd in front of the goal, and Ching managed to redirect it into the goal. Gotta say that I didn't realize Ching had even scored that one until much later.
We had a few more opportunities that were prettier than the goal, but nothing trumps a goal. In the first 10 minutes, I thought we were going to get our goal when we had two solid threats. One of them saw Ngwenya with an open look on goal, but he decided to pass it off and the ball was lost. Later, Ching [watching the tape later: it is D-Ro] hustled to the goal line to save the ball and chip it in front of goal, but with an open goal staring us in the face, no one was there to capitalize as Holden hustled up to try.
Then in the 19th minute Gomez had a pretty innocuous free kick that bounced in our box (bad news, that) and somehow lazily floated towards the top corner of our goal. We were saved by the woodwork, but it would've been pretty embarrassing had that slow ball gone in.
From my position (low down section 219 tonight), I thought Ching had a sure goal in the 27th or thereabouts. With the ball at his feet at the edge of the 18-yard box, only one defender in the area (pinned to his side of course), Ching winds up and rips a shot that was deflected by the back's shin. With the deflection, I was lined up behind the ball's path and it was bearing in on the upper 90. I thought the ricochet would make it too deceptive for Perkins, but the GK had incredible reflexes and managed to knock the sure goal out for a corner.
Just a few minutes later, Robinson and Emilio are going at it on our half and Robinson smoothly wins the ball, only to get twisted up with his own momentum. The Brazilian collects the ball and Onstad faces him alone...and comes out on top. This was by far the most dangerous moment of the first half (other than that confusingly scary free kick). A few minutes later, we got the goal and I figured one goal would be all we need in Robertson Stadium.
But then the second half started and I became a bit more worried. Our back line limited DC 's opportunities on goal, but we were totally outclassed in the midfield. It wasn't that we had bunkered in or had given up, but for a stretch from about the 55th minute to the 65th minute, we could only manage about 2 passes to every 11 of DC's. They were stringing the passes together like beads, but luckily the passing was basically just possession-oriented and not penetrating. Things became a bit more even as the half wore on, but I think DC's desperation made them a bit more effective.
I thought that we had some good individual performances in the second half, but we sure weren't clicking. One player would make a nice pass, and another would have just cut the other way. One would zig while another would zag. The subs didn't change the game complexion much, but were a good move given we have three more games this week. I didn't think Nate Jaqua added much when he came in, but it was good to give Ngwenya some rest. Ashe did manage to keep our speed up in Ngwenya's absence. DeRo needed the rest and Clark needed some time to gel with his teammates. (And did Clark's jersey look yellower than the other jerseys? Maybe that's what happens when it sits at the bottom of your drawer for a month. My wife thought it just hadn't absorbed 8 pounds of sweat and that's why it looked different.)
We do need to work on game-killing possession play in these 1-goal games. It makes for tense moments otherwise. And I repeat this question: Why can't the stadium keep the clock running past 90 so we at least have an idea of how far into stoppage we've gone? Maybe I need to start an email campaign to get that going.
Bottom line is our defense is tops of the league. We have allowed only 10 goals this year, 5 fewer than the next lowest total (owned by Chivas-Carson). At home, we've scored 13 and allowed only 4. In only one game (at DC) we have allowed more than 1 goal -- and that was limited to 2. Credit goes to Onstad and our back four, no doubt; but it's also a result of our solid midfield with talent in the center and hustle on the wings. Perhaps Bradley should give some of our defenders a better look at the next US National Team camp.
Odd bits:
You know, you can't expect better weather in Houston in July. With the occasional breeze, it was actually bearable tonight.
We tied the series with DC this year. While we're done with them for league play, we do meet them once more here in Houston, on August 1 for the SuperLiga tournament.
We are only 2 wins shy of our season win total last year. Our 2 ties are 11 shy of our season total for last year, but I'd gladly swap draws for wins any season.
Tuesday we face the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup. Even if it means we struggle, I hope we give our reserves some time on the field. It'd be good for them and good for our club's future. If we do move on and face FCD, I hope we mop the field up with them!
The goal wasn't pretty by any stretch. After DC cleared one of our corners, the ball ended up with Mulrooney, who took a little long in my eager mind to decide to shoot, but shoot he did. The ball got stopped in the crowd in front of the goal, and Ching managed to redirect it into the goal. Gotta say that I didn't realize Ching had even scored that one until much later.
We had a few more opportunities that were prettier than the goal, but nothing trumps a goal. In the first 10 minutes, I thought we were going to get our goal when we had two solid threats. One of them saw Ngwenya with an open look on goal, but he decided to pass it off and the ball was lost. Later, Ching [watching the tape later: it is D-Ro] hustled to the goal line to save the ball and chip it in front of goal, but with an open goal staring us in the face, no one was there to capitalize as Holden hustled up to try.
Then in the 19th minute Gomez had a pretty innocuous free kick that bounced in our box (bad news, that) and somehow lazily floated towards the top corner of our goal. We were saved by the woodwork, but it would've been pretty embarrassing had that slow ball gone in.
From my position (low down section 219 tonight), I thought Ching had a sure goal in the 27th or thereabouts. With the ball at his feet at the edge of the 18-yard box, only one defender in the area (pinned to his side of course), Ching winds up and rips a shot that was deflected by the back's shin. With the deflection, I was lined up behind the ball's path and it was bearing in on the upper 90. I thought the ricochet would make it too deceptive for Perkins, but the GK had incredible reflexes and managed to knock the sure goal out for a corner.
Just a few minutes later, Robinson and Emilio are going at it on our half and Robinson smoothly wins the ball, only to get twisted up with his own momentum. The Brazilian collects the ball and Onstad faces him alone...and comes out on top. This was by far the most dangerous moment of the first half (other than that confusingly scary free kick). A few minutes later, we got the goal and I figured one goal would be all we need in Robertson Stadium.
But then the second half started and I became a bit more worried. Our back line limited DC 's opportunities on goal, but we were totally outclassed in the midfield. It wasn't that we had bunkered in or had given up, but for a stretch from about the 55th minute to the 65th minute, we could only manage about 2 passes to every 11 of DC's. They were stringing the passes together like beads, but luckily the passing was basically just possession-oriented and not penetrating. Things became a bit more even as the half wore on, but I think DC's desperation made them a bit more effective.
I thought that we had some good individual performances in the second half, but we sure weren't clicking. One player would make a nice pass, and another would have just cut the other way. One would zig while another would zag. The subs didn't change the game complexion much, but were a good move given we have three more games this week. I didn't think Nate Jaqua added much when he came in, but it was good to give Ngwenya some rest. Ashe did manage to keep our speed up in Ngwenya's absence. DeRo needed the rest and Clark needed some time to gel with his teammates. (And did Clark's jersey look yellower than the other jerseys? Maybe that's what happens when it sits at the bottom of your drawer for a month. My wife thought it just hadn't absorbed 8 pounds of sweat and that's why it looked different.)
We do need to work on game-killing possession play in these 1-goal games. It makes for tense moments otherwise. And I repeat this question: Why can't the stadium keep the clock running past 90 so we at least have an idea of how far into stoppage we've gone? Maybe I need to start an email campaign to get that going.
Bottom line is our defense is tops of the league. We have allowed only 10 goals this year, 5 fewer than the next lowest total (owned by Chivas-Carson). At home, we've scored 13 and allowed only 4. In only one game (at DC) we have allowed more than 1 goal -- and that was limited to 2. Credit goes to Onstad and our back four, no doubt; but it's also a result of our solid midfield with talent in the center and hustle on the wings. Perhaps Bradley should give some of our defenders a better look at the next US National Team camp.
Odd bits:
You know, you can't expect better weather in Houston in July. With the occasional breeze, it was actually bearable tonight.
We tied the series with DC this year. While we're done with them for league play, we do meet them once more here in Houston, on August 1 for the SuperLiga tournament.
We are only 2 wins shy of our season win total last year. Our 2 ties are 11 shy of our season total for last year, but I'd gladly swap draws for wins any season.
Tuesday we face the Charleston Battery in the US Open Cup. Even if it means we struggle, I hope we give our reserves some time on the field. It'd be good for them and good for our club's future. If we do move on and face FCD, I hope we mop the field up with them!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Taking the C-bus
It was certainly nice to leave C-bus with 3 points. Nine points in a week certainly turns things around, and now we're near the top of the conference.
I can't say much about the quality of our play. Our passing was poor and we had very little possession. In the second half, the guys looked exhausted and the quality dropped even more. It's exactly the opposite situation from the month of May, where we looked sharp yet would lose the game. Given that it was an afternoon game, a good plane ride away from home, and following two matches in a week, you gotta give the guys a pass.
Great irony that the two scorers were Ngwenya and Moreno, both tallying goals against their previous clubs. Moreno had a better game than I can recall him ever having with Dynamo. He skied through the air in the box to head in his goal, took on defenders, made crosses, and suffered the usual fouls. But my favorite Crewman was Marshall, who scored us the winning goal. After he slid to prevent Gray's cross (Gray serving as the primary A-Mid this afternoon) from getting to Ngwenya, I was thinking how I would've liked to see NGWENYA making the slide. It would make it look like, you know, he was hungry to score, rather than just being hopeful the ball would come to him. We need hunger up front. Even though the result wasn't what Marshall wanted, at least he was throwing his body into his effort. I'm just thankful that his effort helped the score along.
Ngwenya: beautiful header on the corner kick, and who would've thought you'd claim 3 goals this week. Props to you! Now lets see some more hunger in front of goal.
I'm just cranky because it's Sunday night and the workweek looms. Bear with me.
Other MLS Thoughts
Can't say I'm sad to see LA's decline. The MLS probably benefits with strong clubs in LA and NY, and Beckham definitely benefits from a strong LA. I still can't root for LA though; I leave it to them to solve their problems. I have faith that Frank Yallop can do so, but will it be too late to salvage the season? And do I care? Heck, if Beckham helps his team improve, but they still miss the playoffs, Becks will probably call it a successful building season and be glad for the rest.
Who would've thought that (1) Ben Olson would get a hat trick, and (2) DC could parlay a 2-1 lead into a 4-2 victory with only 10 men versus Captain America, JP Angel and RBNY? I didn't.
I can't say much about the quality of our play. Our passing was poor and we had very little possession. In the second half, the guys looked exhausted and the quality dropped even more. It's exactly the opposite situation from the month of May, where we looked sharp yet would lose the game. Given that it was an afternoon game, a good plane ride away from home, and following two matches in a week, you gotta give the guys a pass.
Great irony that the two scorers were Ngwenya and Moreno, both tallying goals against their previous clubs. Moreno had a better game than I can recall him ever having with Dynamo. He skied through the air in the box to head in his goal, took on defenders, made crosses, and suffered the usual fouls. But my favorite Crewman was Marshall, who scored us the winning goal. After he slid to prevent Gray's cross (Gray serving as the primary A-Mid this afternoon) from getting to Ngwenya, I was thinking how I would've liked to see NGWENYA making the slide. It would make it look like, you know, he was hungry to score, rather than just being hopeful the ball would come to him. We need hunger up front. Even though the result wasn't what Marshall wanted, at least he was throwing his body into his effort. I'm just thankful that his effort helped the score along.
Ngwenya: beautiful header on the corner kick, and who would've thought you'd claim 3 goals this week. Props to you! Now lets see some more hunger in front of goal.
I'm just cranky because it's Sunday night and the workweek looms. Bear with me.
Other MLS Thoughts
Can't say I'm sad to see LA's decline. The MLS probably benefits with strong clubs in LA and NY, and Beckham definitely benefits from a strong LA. I still can't root for LA though; I leave it to them to solve their problems. I have faith that Frank Yallop can do so, but will it be too late to salvage the season? And do I care? Heck, if Beckham helps his team improve, but they still miss the playoffs, Becks will probably call it a successful building season and be glad for the rest.
Who would've thought that (1) Ben Olson would get a hat trick, and (2) DC could parlay a 2-1 lead into a 4-2 victory with only 10 men versus Captain America, JP Angel and RBNY? I didn't.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
I still believe
As I was traveling through America's heartland, I was unable to see the Dynamo-DC United match this past weekend. I did read the various synopses of the game, as well as Glenn's take, but I can't comment on the match with any specificity.
It does look like Dynamo acquitted themselves quite well, particularly in the second half, but still are having trouble getting the goals they need. DeRo misses a PK (argh!), but creates a goal to end the D-H scoring drought, but not our winless streak. (Here's a link to all Week 8 goals, including DDR's.)
Glenn Davis reiterates his claim that our troubles stem from conceding the first goal, then being unable to pry open the bunker teams fall into when protecting their lead. I agree with Glenn that chasing the game is always difficult (the only time we've succeeded this season was on Colorado's big pitch), but that's not the whole story of course. I wish I could say what the "whole story" is, but I think it's really just a combination of individuals being off their game (DDR at first, Ching later, the wingers intermittently), difficulty with the newbies (Ngwenya, who could have introduced himself to his new city and turned around our fortunes by taking advantage of some of his 1-v-GK opportunities), poor set-pieces, and bad luck. After the early collection of poor showings, the team has played solidly as a unit, so despite some individual blunders, there seems to be no systematic problem.
So what's the solution?
Some denizens of the Internet state that Dynamo need to spend money on a Designated Player because we need a bigtime striker that can finish what the team hath wrought in the first two-thirds of the field. Others say that Dynamo has stayed the same while the league has improved.
I don't buy either observation. Dynamo are not being played off the field -- in fact, we've looked to be the better team in every match since the RBNY match. Defensively we're solid. Offensively, we're possessing the ball well and creating chances. We have top quality in every position; we don't need new blood (the only exception being perhaps the #2 striker). The team only needs to work on bolstering their confidence, improving their free kicks, and becoming a little hungrier (even reckless) in the penalty box. Practicing set-pieces, in-box finishing, and long-distance strikes would help, but this is no secret -- Dom is already taking these necessary steps -- nor is there anything magical in the recipe. The team needs to continue working on these areas to refine their skills and (perhaps more importantly) improve their confidence so they don't waste time second-guessing themselves come game time. They have the skills, they just need to get their heads into the "zone" when under game pressure. (More of that Zen stuff I keep mentioning.) After the successes come, the confidence will return and we'll be back to our old winning ways.
Thankfully, our slump coincides with a lack of results throughout the Western Conference, so we're still in the fight even in the midst of our doldrums. Furthermore, 4 of our next 6 matches are against Western Conference opponents, giving us ample opportunity to gain ground. Hopefully the tide turns this weekend against our rivals of the I-45 corridor. I can't think of a better time to do it.
Two observations from the midwest:
It does look like Dynamo acquitted themselves quite well, particularly in the second half, but still are having trouble getting the goals they need. DeRo misses a PK (argh!), but creates a goal to end the D-H scoring drought, but not our winless streak. (Here's a link to all Week 8 goals, including DDR's.)
Glenn Davis reiterates his claim that our troubles stem from conceding the first goal, then being unable to pry open the bunker teams fall into when protecting their lead. I agree with Glenn that chasing the game is always difficult (the only time we've succeeded this season was on Colorado's big pitch), but that's not the whole story of course. I wish I could say what the "whole story" is, but I think it's really just a combination of individuals being off their game (DDR at first, Ching later, the wingers intermittently), difficulty with the newbies (Ngwenya, who could have introduced himself to his new city and turned around our fortunes by taking advantage of some of his 1-v-GK opportunities), poor set-pieces, and bad luck. After the early collection of poor showings, the team has played solidly as a unit, so despite some individual blunders, there seems to be no systematic problem.
So what's the solution?
Some denizens of the Internet state that Dynamo need to spend money on a Designated Player because we need a bigtime striker that can finish what the team hath wrought in the first two-thirds of the field. Others say that Dynamo has stayed the same while the league has improved.
I don't buy either observation. Dynamo are not being played off the field -- in fact, we've looked to be the better team in every match since the RBNY match. Defensively we're solid. Offensively, we're possessing the ball well and creating chances. We have top quality in every position; we don't need new blood (the only exception being perhaps the #2 striker). The team only needs to work on bolstering their confidence, improving their free kicks, and becoming a little hungrier (even reckless) in the penalty box. Practicing set-pieces, in-box finishing, and long-distance strikes would help, but this is no secret -- Dom is already taking these necessary steps -- nor is there anything magical in the recipe. The team needs to continue working on these areas to refine their skills and (perhaps more importantly) improve their confidence so they don't waste time second-guessing themselves come game time. They have the skills, they just need to get their heads into the "zone" when under game pressure. (More of that Zen stuff I keep mentioning.) After the successes come, the confidence will return and we'll be back to our old winning ways.
Thankfully, our slump coincides with a lack of results throughout the Western Conference, so we're still in the fight even in the midst of our doldrums. Furthermore, 4 of our next 6 matches are against Western Conference opponents, giving us ample opportunity to gain ground. Hopefully the tide turns this weekend against our rivals of the I-45 corridor. I can't think of a better time to do it.
Two observations from the midwest:
- I saw no sign of the Wizards while I was in KC. The team was in New England this past weekend, and there was no other visible proof that the city had a professional soccer team. My in-town relatives were only casually aware that there was a team in town.
- As I was driving in Southern Oklahoma, I was passed by a 90s-era jalopy that had an FC Dallas sticker on its rear window. It seems FCD has some presence at least.
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