Anatomy of a goal: HH seals the three points
(image via Billy Mears)
Big players step up in big moments and that’s what Hector Herrera did Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium. With the Houston Dynamo leading Austin FC 1-0 late, the Mexican international rose to the occasion to make sure the 19,047 fans went home happy.
Today we’re breaking down the setup and the movement that led to Herrera’s goal. All the grainy images we’re using are from the Apple TV broadcast and Major League Soccer’s YouTube highlight video.
We pick the play up in the 86th minute with the Dynamo leading 1-0 thanks to Amine Bassi’s penalty kick. With the Dynamo on the ball (left circle) we see Herrera begin to make a run (right circle) in to the space left by two Austin players pressuring the ball.
As Herrera receives the pass in space, he looks over his right shoulder (circled) to see where his teammates are.
Herrera drives into the space (top circle) while Coco Carrasquilla is calling for the ball (middle circle) at the top of the box. Griffin Dorsey (bottom circle), who just came into the game as a sub, is joining the play as well. We’ll hear more from Dorsey later in this sequence.
Herrera’s pass was intended for Carrasquilla but Sebas Ferreira (circled) checks back and receives the ball with his back to goal.
Ferreira holds the ball up (left circle) and draws three Austin defenders to him. This leaves Dorsey (right circle) isolated with Austin defender Adam Lundkvist.
Ferreira actually loses the ball trying to pass to Carrasquilla but Herrera pounces on the deflection and dribbles away from goal and the defenders (left circle) to create space. Dorsey (right circle) sees Herrera in possession and calls for the ball.
Dorsey receives the ball (right circle) and looks to have a path to goal, or a shot. At this time in the play, there are no Dynamo players open in the center of the box, with the Austin defense seemingly having any runs covered (left circle).
Dorsey stands Lundkvist up on the dribble (right circle) and runs begin to materialize. Carrasquilla (center circle) has pulled his man to the back post, creating space in the middle for a late-arriving run from Herrera (left circle).
Dorsey picks out Herrera who does brilliantly to time his run into space and the Mexican gets enough on the shot with his left foot to get a shot on goal.
Do you hear that? Yep, that’s Herrera’s first MLS goal and a huge three points for the Houston Dynamo.
