Capitalization on first-half opportunities paves way to win
Pair of early goals net valuable points in early playoff picture
The Dynamo coasted past the Colorado Rapids 2-0 at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday night, capitalizing on their firsthalf chances and dominating a short-handed team to move above .500 on the season.
“It’s a team that when they win the ball they try to counterattack and capitalize on your mistakes,” Dynamo coach Wilmer Cabrera said. “I think today I’m pretty excited and happy because the players were focused, concentrated from the beginning of the game.”
In the 30th minute, with an attack building, the Dynamo (65-3) lost possession before midfielder Tomás Martinez recaptured the ball and darted through the box toward the goal. He turned around one defender with a smooth crossover before cutting past another and firing at the goal.
Colorado keeper Tim Howard made a diving save, but his backline was absent as Martinez swiftly reloaded and fired another for the go-ahead score.
Gaining an early advantage
Six minutes later, Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas was clenching his fists after slotting a rolling penalty kick into the left side of the net. Manotas is averaging just over one goal every other match. It was his sixth of the 2018 season, matching his second-highest season scoring total from 2016.
The Dynamo played downhill through most of the first half, maintaining possession well within Colorado’s side of the field. But late in the first half, the Rapids (2-9-2) pushed back, hoping to salvage a goal to put them within striking distance in the second half.
But in extra time a chippy back-and-forth between Colorado forward Yannick Boli and Dynamo defender Leonardo resulted in a red card when Boli hit Leonardo’s face as he tried to advance past midfield. After a brief scuffle, Boli was dismissed, leaving the Rapids short-handed before the second half even began.
“We went after them and we took control of the game really quick,” Cabrera said. “(The red card) helped us to continue keeping the possession.”
The Dynamo entered the game with defenders returning from injury and suspension, but right back Andrew Wenger — fresh off of his return from a right leg injury — was substituted out in the 25th minute with tightness in his calf.
Howard stayed far busier than Dynamo keeper Joe Willis, facing more than 20 shots to Willis’ two. Howard’s seven saves might have prevented a more lopsided deficit as shots from the flanks and at point-blank range fizzled out.
A stranglehold on the game
The Dynamo’s first-half dominance continued through the second half as they controlled possession on Colorado’s side. They maintained ball control for 75 percent of the match.
Dynamo captain DeMarcus Beasley nearly set up two scoring plays with crosses that skidded past just feet away from Howard, a veteran international keeper.
Forward Romell Quioto entered the game looking to become the 16th player to reach double-digit assists in club history, but he whiffed on two opportunities.
In the 88th minute, Manotas just missed out on a second goal when the ball ricocheted off of the post.
After scoring just one goal on the field and no points off of it following losses to Real Salt Lake and Montreal, Dynamo fans are happy to see points on the scoreboard and in the standings. The win puts them back into the early playoff picture.
“Last year we lost against this team,” Cabrera said. “Today we got the three points and a solid performance.”