Woes in second half reason for concerns
Mental errors are culprits as squad surrenders leads
Every soccer team can do better when it comes to crosses, man marking, overlapping runs and finishing.
By not executing such things, every team is likely to struggle.
The Dynamo are no different, but their problems go beyond anything they can work on in training. They are holding themselves back because they can’t get it right in their heads.
Six times this season, the Dynamo have played well in the first half. In most cases, the first 45 minutes have been exceptional. But too many times, the second half has betrayed them.
Disturbing trend
It began March 18 in Portland when they conceded three goals to lose 4-2. It continued April 8 when they gave up two scores in a 2-0 loss at New England.
The latest collapse came last Saturday at home when they took a two-goal lead into halftime and settled for a 2-2 draw against Minnesota United FC.
The Dynamo will have a chance to get it right Saturday when they host the San Jose Earthquakes and
coach Dominic Kinnear, who led the Orange to MLS Cup titles in 2006 and 2007.
“We are missing character,” forward Mauro Manotas said after Saturday’s draw. “We are missing attitude, drive, want. That’s something we have been working on. That’s more psychological than physical.”
Last weekend against Minnesota was perhaps the most maddening because once the visitors tied the game in the 59th minute the Dynamo flipped a switch. Suddenly, they were good again. They did not score in the final 30 minutes, but at least they threatened.
When the second half began, they relaxed and made mistakes they did not make in the first half. The mistakes on Minnesota’s first goal were mental.
Boniek Garcia was marking Christian Ramirez at the far post when Kevin Molino hit a corner kick. Garcia appeared to look away when Molino made contact and never had time to react to the ball in his space.
Goalkeeper Joe Willis never came off his line to punch the service that was inside the 6-yard box. After the game, he said he should have done that.
“We just didn’t come out concentrated enough,” midfielder Eric Alexander said. “We fell back and gave up two quick goals. It was a bummer because it was something we talked about all week — being better in the second half.
“We just didn’t follow through.”
After the game, coach Wilmer Cabrera took the blame for those missing 15 minutes. He added that he was going to focus on the way the team played over the last 30 minutes because that’s the way he wants the Dynamo to play the rest of the season.
Too early to panic
The Dynamo (3-2-1) have 28 games remaining so there is plenty of time to fix the second-half issues. But if it does not happen soon, it could become a trend that costs them a chance to qualify for the MLS playoffs for the first time in four years.
“We’re still early in the season,” defender Jalil Anibaba said. “We’ll get it right. It is just a matter of staying positive and remaining critical in ourselves.
“All of us need to understand what we need to do better.”