Houston Dynamo player ratings at New York Red Bulls

(image via Houston Dynamo FC)

The Houston Dynamo went to New York and left with a point in hand from Red Bull Arena Saturday night. While Houston was largely out played the entire game, the Dynamo could have taken all 3 points if it wasn’t for a Red Bulls’ goal in the last minute of the match from a corner kick. Let’s see how everyone performed.

Starters

Steve Clark–8

A lot of chatter was out there about who would be given the captain armband with Hector Herrera missing. Clark appeared on the lineup as the team’s captain and Steve played one of his best games this season. He ended the game with 6 saves, including a point-blank shot from Sean Nealis that Clark parried away. New York placed a man in front of Steve on the corner that led to the goal, the cross was spot on and there wasn’t much Clark could have done. If it wasn’t for Steve’s nicely placed goal kick towards the attack with a lucky bounce, Coco would not have scored.

Daniel Steres–7

Daniel had a busy day at the office on Saturday, to put it lightly. John Tolkin and Cameron Harper were relentless on Steres’ side of the field. Even with all that pressure, Daniel kept his cool, winning 75% of his tackles and not committing a single foul. Steres also added 7 clearances and 6 recoveries to his defensive stats. Daniel Steres has impressed since taking over the right back position for the Dynamo.

Ethan Bartlow–6

Ethan continues to solidify the defensive group each game. The Red Bulls flooded Houston’s box in the first 30 minutes of the match. Bartlow was asked to win aerial duels and clear the ball out a lot this match. He even had a few important blocks, from RBNY shots trying to make their way to the target.

Teenage Hadebe–7

Teenage had a decent game. He wasn’t punished by a mistake. Hadebe can keep you on the edge of the seat sometimes and not necessarily because of a good thing. Teenage was strong against the Red Bulls, he finished the game with 11 clearances, 6 recoveries, 3 interceptions and 2 defensive blocks.

Franco Escobar–6

Escobar excels when asked to do unorthodox tackles. He lays it out on the line, and usually his gamble wins. Franco’s downfall can be that loses his head and composure fast. He picked up a yellow card midway the first half and added a couple other nail-biting scuffles where you expected to see him booked again and sent to the showers. Escobar defensive stats included 7 tackles won, 2 clearances, and 3 recoveries. However, his weak man-marking left Omir Fernandez wide open for a free header that tied up the match in the 89th minute.

Artur–6

Artur wasn’t the Artur from past matches. Not having Hector Herrera settle the game in the midfield,made Artur stay purely in a drawn back position, absorbing the Red Bulls attack.

Luis Caicedo–6

While Luis Caicedo was another defensive midfielder added to support New York’s constant pressure, it seems like he was just a body out there. Apart from getting, again, his body in between Red Bulls shots and deflecting them away from goal, Caicedo didn’t help relieve the pressure by maintaining possession.

Coco Carrasquilla–8

Carrasquilla was another midfielder who struggled without Hector Herrera’s partnership. Coco’s play on the field didn’t change much compared to past games, but the opportunities to push forward were few, due to how suffocating the Red Bulls pressed. Coco had a long distance shot in the first half that went wide, and in the second half a great counter saw him score his first goal of the season.

Brooklyn Raines–5

It is great to see Brooklyn Raines get plenty of meaningful minutes as the young American breaks into MLS. With all that said, Brooklyn had only 10 touches on the ball, in which he was dispossessed twice. He had a 67% passing accuracy, that’s 2 out 3 passes; and committed 2 fouls. Raines seems to be playing out of position, centrally is where he excels.

Amine Bassi–5

Bassi was kept relatively quiet during his 67 minutes played and sadly his scoring streak ended. Amine was able to dribble the ball forward during a quick counter in the first half, where he found Coco, who took a shot that missed the target. The Dynamo needs Le Petite Archer from Morocco to take on the creative role and create dangerous plays for Houston, but he took a step back on Saturday only having 26 touches, 2 chances created and 0 shots.

Corey Baird–5

Baird continues to start games, because per Ben Olsen, Corey provides more structure in the defensive side and threatens the opposition’s defensive line with his pace. Against the Red Bulls, Baird did much of nothing on both sides of the ball. He only had 5 recoveries, 1 tackle won and 0 shots.

Subs

Thor Ulfarsson–4

Thor came in for Amine Bassi in the second half and seconds later Houston would find the back of the net on a quick counter. Ulfarsson’s aerial challenge to win Steve Clark’s goal kick, sparked the attack after a lucky bounce that caught the Red Bulls off guard. Nothing much from the Icelander after that.

Ivan Franco–7

Ivan was brought in to change the game and change the game he did. Franco was able to find the ball on a free kick towards New York’s goal just for Carlos Coronel to make a save. And just like his jersey number, 7 minutes later, his quick feet found the loose ball on the counterattack, and due to John Tolkin breathing down his neck, set up Coco for the finish. Franco tallied his first assist of the season.

Coach

Ben Olsen–6

Olsen was without his captain and star midfielder, Hector Herrera. Therefore, Ben was going to have a defensive scheme to keep absorbing the strong pressure that Red Bulls bring to their opponents. The only way to attack would be to take advantage of a mistake, pounce on the ball on a counter and create set pieces. Olsen’s team did exactly that, even though the squad will look back and wonder how they got out of Red Bull Arena with just one goal conceded. Ben’s only 2 substitutions made an instant impact and a goal. Now, he could have elected to bring on center back Micael to close out the match or even fresh legs out on the wing to find a second goal by bringing on Sebas Ferreira or Nelson Quinones. At this point it is all a what if.