Dynamo 2sday: Dos tripped up in Vancouver
(image via Whitecaps 2)
Coming off the heels of a good victory away in Kansas City, Houston Dynamo 2 traveled way up north, their farthest trip this year, to Vancouver, Canada to take on Vancouver Whitecaps 2.
Vancouver came into this match with the most goals scored in the whole Western Conference but also was one of the teams with the most goals against. A good amount of pressure, like was on display against Sporting Kansas City II, could be very beneficial for Houston in getting a good result in the north.
The game started off slow, without either team taking any chances and not risking too much. After a turnover, Vancouver would have their first shot. Paolo Rios was able to slide in front of the shot to send the ball to the corner in the 15th minute.
A few minutes later, in the 22nd minute, a quick cross back to the center of the box ended with a botched shot from a Vancouver player. This was the most dangerous play for both teams so far. The Dynamo struggled a little more to get to that last third of the field as Vancouver was slowly but surely starting to create a few chances.
Close to the half hour mark, Papa N’Doye would receive a pass outside the box. Diego Gonzalez would overlap, get the ball from N’Doye and get off a shot that the Vancouver goalkeeper would save. The rebound would go in the direction of N’Doye, but he wasn’t able to connect. This was the clearest chance for the Dynamo early on. Houston’s usual pressing was there but it didn’t feel as intense as it did with Sporting Kansas City II in the previous match.
A few minutes after that last chance, N’Doye would make another run all the way to the end line. He was able to get a cross to the top of the box where Jacob Evans would get a low shot off. Vancouver goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer got a foot on it. The rebound would be finished by Zeke Soto, who got his second start with Dynamo Dos, but the goal was called back for offside.
The teams each had a couple of opportunities for in the first half nothing too dangerous. Both teams were hoping that the second half would open up more as both teams looked to finish the game inside the 90 minutes and not head to shots from the penalty spot.
(image via Whitecaps 2)
In the 53rd minute, Ifeanyi Udanoh played a long ball over the heads of everyone to N’Doye. The striker was able to get a shot off after controlling the ball while stepping into the box. Boehmer would once again save the day and send that ball out for a corner kick. Off that corner, Yair Gonzalez, who also got his second start in a row for this Dynamo Dos squad, would receive the ball at the back post and try to place it at the near post but Boehmer made another save.
Shortly after, in the 58th minute, Vancouver got a shot off from inside the 18. Xavier Valdez responded well and kepy the game leveled at 0. In minute 68, Jay Herdman received the ball on the back post and after a few moves, took a shot that went slightly wide. Vancouver becoming more dangerous as the game reaches the final minutes of play. The Dynamo continued the pressing, as always, but Vancouver seemed to be getting by the press and the numbers that the squad put forward in the pressing game.
A few minutes later, Kamron Habibullah received the ball on top of the six, and took a quick shot towards the first post. Valdez made a diving save to keep the game scoreless. The Canadians knocked at the door of Valdez; they really wanted the three points at home.
The game changer would come from a silly mistake in the 79th minute and it would define the entire game. It was a fatal mistake from Udanoh, who also got his second start and came into this game with a good performance against SKC II, inside the box trying to evade two Vancouver players. Jean-Claude Ngando took advantage of the poor touch by the Dynamo defender. The Vancouver forward stole the ball and had a blank point shot at goal. It didn’t go to waste and put Vancouver up 1-0 and ultimately gave them the victory.
Even though Dynamo 2 came out with basically the same starting XI as the previous match, apart from Paolo Rios starting over Sebastian Rodriguez, this team looked like it lacked that something that gave them the 4-1 victory against Kansas City. N’Doye still creates chances but can’t manage to put them away. Yair Gonzalez wasn’t too visible this match. Diego Gonzalez and Jacob Evans weren’t as precise as we are used to on those chances in and around the box. Rios did a good job taking over Rodriguez’s starting role. The back line had a solid game, but it all came down to a defensive error that is bound to happen from time to time when you try to play out of the back with multiple players putting pressure inside the box.
Sometimes a game that should have ended with split points ends in a nil-nil and gets decided by a lapse of judgement from a player that up to that point has had been having a good game. We could sit here and blame the miles of travel, which affects the body, but that would be a cop out. Knowing the attitude of the Dynamo 2 players and the coaching staff, they would probably put that aside and just recognize that chances were there for both teams and Vancouver just happened to put away one. It’s time to keep learning from mistakes and look forward to the next challenge.
The next match is a home match against a Real Monarchs side that sits just a point ahead of Dynamo 2 in the standings. This will be a great opportunity to play in front of a home crowd and prove that the Vancouver game was something we could forget about. You can see the progress on and off the pitch, so let’s get out there at 6 PM on Sunday at SaberCats Stadium to cheer on the players that are next up for this Houston Dynamo FC organization.
VAMOS LOS PIBES!!! HOUSTON CONTRA TODOS!!!
