Houston Dynamo player ratings vs Minnesota United

(image via Houston Dynamo FC)

The Houston Dynamo had their roughest home game of the season last night, losing to Minnesota United 3-0. The team could not use the elements that make playing in Houston difficult for visiting teams in their favor. The Dynamo have not won in 4 games and heat exhaustion looks to be kicking in as things failed at Shell Energy Stadium.

Starters

Steve Clark-3

Steve tried pushing a cross away but couldn’t get enough on it, and the ball landed right to a Minnesota player that eventually turned into the Loons’ first goal. There wasn’t much Clark could do on Teemu Pukki’s lone run at goal that made the match 2-0. Clark had his only save of the game on a breakaway late in the game, a big save, but unfortunately for him, the ball fell to a Ismael Tajouri-Shradi who sealed the game with the third goal.

Franco Escobar-6

Escobar gets the highest rating on the back line, not because his stats were drastically better, but because he was one of, if not the only, players that hustled the entire 90 minutes. Franco had plenty of interceptions and recoveries as well as a great last second tackle that saved the team from conceding another goal. Some frustration but more grit and determination when things aren’t going the right way. Bravo, Franco!

Micael-4

Micael had a decent game on paper. The young Brazilian defender completed 92% of his passes, won 75% of his tackles and added 11 recoveries. However, if you look at all 3 goals, Micael could have possibly done more. In the first goal, he went to the ground fast and Bongi Hlongwane shot over him. On the second goal, he pushed up to pressure Emanuel Reynoso who beat Micael, and found a wide open Pukki for a run at goal. On the last goal from the Loons, Micael rushed back during the counter, but maybe here there wasn’t much he could have done.

Erik Sviatchenko-4

Sviatchenko played 89 minutes before being replaced by Ethan Bartlow. Similar to Micael, most of Erik’s stats looked up to par. He even had 4 shots that did not make it on frame. However, Erik struggled using his body in this match where at least 2 times he was dispossessed by guys much smaller than him. Sometimes, clearing the ball up the field is the correct decision. The veteran found himself making rookie mistakes.

Daniel Steres-4

Steres featured once again as the starting left back. Daniel, like Steve Clark on the first goal, had a weak clearance that found Hlongwane wide open as he placed the ball far away from the Dynamo defense and into the back of the net for the first goal of the match. Steres completed 96% of his passes and had 3 shots that didn’t test Dayne St. Clair. He was subbed off in the 73rd minute.

Artur-5

Artur worked hard for the 85 minutes that he was on the field. But, it was just a rough day at the office for him trying to contain Minnesota’s midfield. The shield that the Brazilian is known for was cracked last night by Reynoso and company. Artur did gave it a go from distance that the St. Clair dealt with at full extension.

Hector Herrera-6

Like Artur, Hector worked hard all game, but the Loons midfield was just better at eliminating open spaces when the ball was in Houston’s possession and took advantage of their chances that culminated in scoring opportunities. Hector should have rested alongside others for this match. A gassed and fatigued Herrera doesn’t help the team much.

Amine Bassi-6

Amine was by far the most productive player for the Houston Dynamo last night. Bassi did create a few chances that could not culminate in goal scoring opportunities. A lot is expected from the creative midfielder and not a lot was shown last night other than a long distance shot that hit the crossbar in the last second of the match.

Corey Baird-4

Last night was a bad night for Corey. He had 31 touches in the 45 minutes that he played in, but honestly, it was like he wasn’t out there. A lot of pointless runs for Baird ended with emptiness. Talk about a deep slump.

Nelson Quinones-4

Remember when Nelson was on fire, terrorizing the opposing fullbacks? Yeah, that seems like an eternity ago. The 20-year-old struggled against DJ Taylor all night before being subbed off at halftime. Quinones had a handful of runs out wide, just to always look to tuck inside and be dispossessed or lose the ball. Stay out wide, send in crosses with your left, kid. Not sure if the rumored new contract is getting to his head.

Aliyu Ibrahim-6

Ibra had 2 shots on target and another shot way off target after a beautiful setup by Amine Bassi. It wasn’t an easy shot attempt, but it should have gone towards the frame of the goal. The offense was just not aggressive nor dangerous.

Substitutes

Thor Ulfarsson-4

Thor came in for Corey Baird to start the second half in an attempt at a comeback. Ulfarsson touched the ball 13 times with 2 shots that went wide. With the score being 2-0 for most of the time he spent on the field and the Loons sitting in a low block, it was always going to be difficult for him to find success.

Ivan Franco-4

Ivan also came in to start the second half for Nelson Quinones. The same for Franco as Thor, Minnesota defended well after going up 2 goals in less than 5 minutes. Ivan did have a chance from a cross that hit him on the shoulder in front of goal but it was tamed by the Loons.

Chase Gasper–4

Chase came in to replace a gassed Daniel Steres, who has been an ironman for Houston this year. Gasper was hoping to get a win against his former team but that was not to be the case. On the last goal from the Loons, a quick counter had Chase and the rest of the squad out of position, making the fast transition a deadly one. However, the real question here is why can’t a natural left back like Chase make the starting lineup at this point?

Luis Caicedo and Ethan Bartlow-N/A

Caicedo and Bartlow came in to contain the Loons and stop the bleeding. Caicedo was only on the field for 2 minutes when Minnesota scored the 3rd and final goal of the match. Ethan was brought on in the 89th minute for Sviatchenko, who was running on empty. Not a lot to discuss on both players.

Head Coach

Ben Olsen-4

Olsen was questioned about the team not looking like themselves at home as they had been early in the season, after Saturday's game. He responded that the team would likely need to see rotation and fresh legs. But, last night the starting lineup had only one change. His team couldn’t contain Bebelo Reynoso, whose magic sparked a quick 2 goal lead that was enough for Houston to not be able to surpass. Olsen had to be fuming, but the embarrassing loss might have been prevented with modifications to the starting lineup. But at this point, it’s all what-ifs.