Rodriguez converts rebound into winner
Midfielder directs carom off crossbar into a celebration, three-point windfall
It felt like déjà vu for Houston fans. Another week, another potential win surrendered late.
But in a moment, the narrative changed when midfielder Memo Rodriguez bounced a header into the back of the net in the 90th minute to rip a wouldbe draw away from the Los Angeles Galaxy for a 3-2 win at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday night.
“I think we were overall better, but we got punished again with one or two mistakes that we made,” coach Wilmer Cabrera said. “We wanted to win, we had that mentality, and despite that we suffered a goal five minutes before the final (whistle). We went after them and we believed, and we had the chance to score the winning goal. It’s very rewarding for the city, for our fans, but especially in my case, I’m really happy for my players.”
The Dynamo (3-3-2) scored early when, in the third minute, forward Romell Quioto chipped a free kick from outside the box on the left side of the field. The ball floated right and Dynamo defender Alejandro Fuenmayor emerged from the pack and elevated to tap the ball with the inside of his foot into the goal. The crowd erupted, orange smoke permeated the air and streamers decorated the edges of the field.
But it all stopped momentarily when the referee stalled the game to examine if Fuenmayor was offside — the goal stood.
The Dynamo earned their way into last season’s playoffs on the strength of a defense that conceded the sixth-fewest goals in MLS. But coming into Saturday’s match, the Dynamo had given up 11 goals in seven games. They’ve also made a habit of allowing teams back into games, especially late.
Saturday was no different, as the Galaxy (3-5-1) struck back in the 39th minute.
Galaxy forward Giovani dos Santos streaked down the middle of the field on the counterattack with Zlatan Ibrahimovic offering support to his right. The Mexican international shot a pass over to Ibrahimovic, who fired on goal but it was deflected by goalkeeper Joe Willis. But dos Santos hadn’t given up on the play, anticipating and then scoring on the rebound.
The teams ended a physical first half even.
Then, as the Dynamo had done to open the game, they positioned themselves to score early in the second half. It was Quioto again in the 47th minute, from the edge of the penalty box.
His kick skipped through a wall of defenders and a flat-footed Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham to find the opposite corner of the net to put the Dynamo up 2-1.
Quioto is building off a productive April when the Honduran had been responsible for a goal and three assists to go along with 10 shots (five on goal).
“We are who we are, and I believe we can win that way, especially at home,” Cabrera said of his team’s approach.
The coach adjusted his lineup to better defend against the Galaxy and prevent another comeback, but the effort proved futile.
In the 85th minute, dos Santos streaked down the field again with acres of space on the left side. He pulled up to cross the ball right, into the box and connected with forward Ola Kamara, who knotted the score at 2-2.
The Dynamo had offensive opportunities in the final minutes. They kept attacking, but their shots were stopped.
In the waning moments, one shot ricocheted off the crossbar, floating in midair for seconds that felt like an eternity.
Then, Rodriguez arrived to head the ball into the net to seal the win before an announced crowd of 22,320.
“This year we’ve been suffering these types of situations, and we’re trying to get away (from it),” Cabrera said, blaming their blown leads on mental lapses. “We don’t want to give up. That’s the key. “Today we were rewarded with that third goal and three points.”