Four players find net in first-half offensive rush
Masterful. Opportunistic. Electric. Thorough.
One word for every first-half goal the Dynamo scored while delivering a convincing statement that the new season might be like the last Major League Soccer season after all.
The goals came early and often Saturday afternoon as the Dynamo torched second-year MLS darling Atlanta United FC 4-0 in front of 20,377 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Atlanta United has the glitz and glamour of a high-spending club that, according to most season previewers, is on the short list of teams that could win the MLS Cup title.
The Dynamo, meanwhile, made minimal additions and barely received any preseason love.
“We know we don’t have the credit for what we do, but we’re not here to receive credit from anyone,” Dynamo coach Wilmer Cabrera said. “We’re here to work, and we’re here to talk on the field. That is where we need to talk.”
Impressive opener
Their words and methods were the same as they were throughout the 2017 MLS regular season, when they proved nearly invincible at home en route to a club-record 57 goals.
They pressed high and created several turnovers that led to quality scoring opportunities Saturday.
The four first-half goals tied a club record.
It had been done three times before Saturday, with the most recent coming March 13, 2016, against FC Dallas.
On Saturday, Andrew Wenger scored the opener in the fifth minute, though Alberth Elis did most of the work.
Elis beat Atlanta United FC center back Leandro Gonzalez Pirez to a back pass on the right edge of the penalty area.
Elis maintained his balance after contact, then dribbled to the post.
Goalkeeper Brad Guzan came off his line, which gave Wenger an open net to tap in the pass from Elis that followed.
“When Alberth gets the ball in space, you have to find yourself in the box somewhere,” Wenger said. “He’s going to find a pass.
“He did that and it all worked out quite well.”
Philippe Senderos doubled the lead in the 23rd minute when he headed home a cross from Boniek Garcia.
Mauro Manotas made it 3-0 in the 27th minute, assisted by Wenger and Elis.
The fourth goal came in the fifth minute of added time when Darwin Ceren hit in the rebound when Guzan tried to push away a Dynamo cross.
Guzan shines for Atlanta
The damage to Atlanta United FC would have been greater if Guzan had not saved five shots.
The Dynamo hit nine of their 10 first-half shots on target.
“We have been able to show that the Houston Dynamo in Houston are going to be dangerous. That’s for sure,” Cabrera said. “Sometimes we are going to win. Sometimes we are going to tie. Sometimes we are going to lose.
“But we’re going to be dangerous. When a team finds us when we are clinical with our finishing, they can suffer.”
Though he didn’t score, the Dynamo player who might have gotten the most out of Saturday’s mathc was Houston native and midfielder Arturo Alvarez.
Alvarez made his club debut when he subbed into the game in the 68th minute.
The 32-year old has been playing professionally since 2003, but this was his first season with his hometown team.
The debut was special enough. Winning in convincing fashion added to it.
“We just wanted it more from minute one,” Alvarez said. “A few things went our way. That’s the way soccer goes sometimes.
“We have to make sure we take advantage of the opportunities and we did.”
Cabezas injured
But the match was not all positive for the Dynamo.
Colombian midfielder Juan David Cabezas played only the first 15 minutes because he suffered a left quadriceps injury.
The severity of the injury likely will not be known until Sunday or Monday.