Dynamo begin Lamar Hunt US Open Cup run: What to watch for
(image via RowdiesSoccer.com)
The Houston Dynamo begin their run in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tonight on the road against the Tampa Bay Rowdies from the USL Championship. Houston is coming off a 1-0 win Saturday against Inter Miami. Tampa Bay played a league match on Sunday, losing 1-0 in San Diego. The Dynamo have won eight straight opening round games in the Open Cup and will look to make it nine tonight.
When: Wednesday, April 26 | 6:30 PM CT kickoff
Where: Al Lang Stadium; St. Petersburg, Florida
TV/Stream: Twitter/@HoustonDynamo
Radio: None
Take it seriously
Every team in MLS treats the Open Cup a little differently. Some will just put out a team of reserves and secretly want to be knocked out. Others will treat it as a tournament with a large pool of prize money and a berth to the Concacaf Champions League, which it is. For Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen, it’s the latter. Olsen lifted the trophy as a coach and a player at D.C. United and said he is “a romantic when it comes to the Open Cup.” With the Dynamo’s scheduled game against LAFC postponed this weekend, it opens up the possibility for Houston to use a close to full strength roster. What that might look like remains to be seen but one thing we do know, Olsen is going to take this tournament seriously. “I've always taken it seriously, as a coach when I was at D.C. (United) for 10 years and being able to win it and advance,” Olsen said earlier this week. “There’s only so many trophies that you can get in this business, and that's one of them. It’s one we're going to bring a team to that we think can get the result on Wednesday.”
Cupset alert
The dreaded “Cupset”, when a team from a higher division is knocked out by a team in a lower division. It happens in domestic cups all over the world and it happens here in the USOC as well. Just last night, the San Jose Earthquakes were beaten by Monterey Bay FC from the USL Championship. USL teams have talent and Olsen knows the problem they could cause if an MLS team isn’t ready. “These USL teams can beat you because their energy level and commitment to play an MLS team is turned up,” Olsen said Monday. “That’s the reality of these. If you don't match that energy and fight, you get in trouble because there's a lot of talent. As we grow, the USL grows and the talent trickles down. Players aren't good enough to make MLS at times, and they're now going down to the USL, which makes them better. It’s a natural progression.”
Weary legs
With all that being said in the previous two points, some players are going to need some rest. As Olsen said this week, “it also gives you a chance to test your depth because you can't always play the same team Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday. With that, especially in the early rounds, you’re using some depth pieces that need games and rhythm.” The Dynamo have used the least number of players in MLS this season with just 19. Ethan Bartlow, Steve Clark, and Teenage Hadebe have played every minute this season. Artur and Corey Baird have started every match. With no game this weekend, it is likely more starters play, but some will be rested. We could see (well we won’t be able to see it, but you get what I mean) several youngsters and even some Dynamo 2 players in the lineup. It’s so hard to predict a starting eleven for an Open Cup early round fixture. We’ll see exactly what Olsen does at about 5:30 this evening.
Availability Report
Houston Dynamo – None provided
Tampa Bay Rowdies – None provided
Predicted Lineup
