Willis seizing his opportunity
Former backup shows his worth during playoffs
Joe Willis’ first stint as the Dynamo’s starting goalkeeper this season lasted seven games in April and May.
When coach Wilmer Cabrera replaced Willis with Tyler Deric for the May 28 game at FC Dallas, Cabrera said it was because the Dynamo needed someone who could “save us,” implying that Deric was better suited for stopping shots that require the most athleticism.
Thrust back into the starting lineup Sunday night in the second leg of the playoff series against Portland because of Deric’s suspension, Willis showed he can save the team, too.
Willis’ first big spot came on a corner kick from the right side in the 23rd minute. Timbers midfielder Dairon Asprilla hit a strong header from the penalty spot and aimed it to the left post.
Willis started at the right post but began to back track as the ball descended on the penalty spot. An instant before Asprilla connected, Willis had squared himself along the goal line in case he was forced into action.
He did not have a chance to take a step before he dove to his right to swat away the shot with his right hand. Defender Philippe Senderos booted away the rebound to clear the danger for good.
“It was a corner kick, and I saw that I wasn’t going to be able to get to it, so I tried to get my feet set and try to react to it,” Willis said. “Fortunately, I was able to keep it out.”
While that save required extra physical effort, the save he made early in the second half required more of his mind.
Portland maestro Diego Valeri stood over a free kick a few yards above the 18-yard line, as dangerous a spot as there could be. The Dynamo set up a five-man wall with one Portland player standing between them.
When Valeri hit the shot, the Dynamo wall separated, which created space for Valeri’s shot to sail through. Though the positioning of the wall was supposed to remove that near-post shot from Willis’ worry, he had to jump into action anyway.
Valeri’s shot bounced 3 yards in front of the goal line. Because Willis read it correctly, he got down quickly enough to stop it from scoring low at the near post.
“Joe was outstanding,” Cabrera said. “He made a wonderful save in the first half. (Portland’s) goal was unbelievable for them. Nothing to do with that. He was solid. He was calm.
“He was Joe Willis, and that’s important. We didn’t want anyone else. We didn’t want him to look like someone else. Be Joe Willis, and Joe Willis was in goal today, and he showed why he’s in goal.”
Willis likely will be in goal for the rest of the postseason. His next opportunity will be on Nov. 21, when the Dynamo play host to Seattle Sounders FC at BBVA Compass Stadium in the first leg of the Western Conference finals.
After serving as backup to Deric for 21 of the final 22 regular season games, Willis had only a few days to prepare for Sunday’s game at Portland. He said in the days before the game that he was ready. On Sunday night, he proved it with his performance.
“Ask any professional athlete who is sitting on the bench, they want to play,” Willis said. “That’s why they do it. So, when I was told that I would be starting, I was excited. I was ready. That’s what you train all year for.”