Anatomy of a Goal: Coco takes route one
(image via Houston Dynamo FC/Twitter)
The beautiful game is sometimes ugly. The Houston Dynamo grinded out a 1-1 draw against the New York Red Bulls, letting the home side have most of the possession and chances on the night. The Dynamo goal came from Coco Carrasquilla, thanks to some good old-fashioned route one football.
Today we’re breaking down the long ball over the top and runs by Houston players that led to Carrasquilla’s goal. All the images we’re using are from the Apple TV broadcast and Major League Soccer’s YouTube highlight video.
The play begins with a goal kick from Steve Clark. The Houston goalkeeper sends the ball long to jump start what was a non-existent offense for the Dynamo to this point.
Thor Ulfarsson jumps for the ball (circled) but both he and the Red Bulls player don’t make contact with it. We can see Ivan Franco and Carrasquilla also watching the flight of the ball. New York has just two defenders back with the two Dynamo players.
The ball bounces and Franco reads that it is going over the hand of Red Bulls defender Andres Reyes (left circle). Carrasquilla also reads the play and begins to cut his run inside (right circle).
Franco breaks away from the pursuing John Tolkin and into the box (left circle). Carrasquilla (right circle) is beating Reyes to the box for support.
Franco (circled) holds off Tolkin and, without looking, plays the ball into the space for Carrasquilla to run onto. Coco would say after the match that he was yelling at Franco to let him know he was there.
Carrasquilla collects the pass and as he looks to shoot, sees New York goalkeeper Carlos Coronel (circled) going down to block a shot attempt. Carrasquilla knows a chipped shot is needed to beat Coronel.
Carrasquilla chips the ball into the net, over Coronel and with just enough loft to avoid the retreating Tolkin.
The Red Bulls would equalize late and deny the Dynamo a road win. Houston should consider themselves lucky that they didn’t concede sooner, and more often. They have this goal, a hoof it and run special, to thank for taking a point home from New Jersey.
