Anatomy of a goal: Sebas ends his drought
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo won their third straight game, rallying for a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night. After playing most of the match a man up, the Dynamo finally got their breakthrough, to tie the game, in the 81st minute with Sebas Ferreira scoring his first goal in more than a year.
Today we’re breaking down Ferreira’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 the ball popping out to Sebastian Kowalczyk (circle) outside the box. The Dynamo are pushing forward to find the equalizer with just ten minutes of regulation to play. Brad Smith, Griffin Dorsey, and Franco Escobar (rectangles) are all in the box to join the attack.
Kowalczyk squares the ball to Coco Carrasquilla (circle) and it looks like he has a lane to pass left to Brad Smith. Carrasquilla decides to hold the ball. San Jose is defending very deep (rectangle) with six defenders in the box.
Carrasquilla turns his hips inside and goes by forward Jeremy Ebobisse (circle) who is back defending. This gives Carrasquilla more options as he moves inside.
Carrasquilla carries the ball to the left side of the field (arrow) and lays it back to Artur (circle).
Artur pushes forward but Carrasquilla has three defenders occupied at the top of the box, blocking off a potential lane to attack. Artur has Smith and Escobar (rectangles) wide if he wants to swing the ball out and back in.
Artur decides to drive at the defenders (circle) as Coco peels back. The Brazilian beats Cristian Espinoza and has Ebobisse on his back foot as he enters the box. The Dynamo seemed afraid to take the Earthquakes on with a dribble into the box and Artur finally took it upon himself to make something happen.
Artur (circle) gets by Ebobisse and is now confronted by defender Carlos Akapo and midfielder Jackson Yueill. Ferreira has checked to the ball (rectangle) to provide an option for Artur to pass to. Escobar, as he has for the last few pictures, still has his hand up wanting the ball on the right.
Artur (circle) pulls the ball back to try and create space between Akapo and Yueill for either a shot or a pass. Ferreira (rectangle) is now calling for the ball.
Artur chips the ball into Ferreira (circle) who controls it off his upper thigh with some space to turn, as the San Jose defender is a few steps off of him.
Ferreira brings the ball down to his feet (circle) and turns to shoot)
Ferreira gets his shot off and it’s deflected by the sliding defender (circle).
The deflection beats goalkeeper William Yarbrough and finds the back of the net (circle).
The goal was Ferreira’s first since October 9, 2022. Escobar would score the winner minutes later to give the Dynamo another three points. With Ferreira finally ending his goal scoring drought, and back in good health, hopefully he goes on a tear to give the Dynamo that number nine that have been longing for.
