Playoff chances dim amid offense’swoes
Dynamo coach Tab Ramos has remained levelheaded despite his team losing eight of its last nine matches.
Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Nashville SC was a blow to Ramos’ hopes and his team’s playoff prospects. On Sunday, the Dynamo (47-7, 19 points) will be desperate to right the ship against Minnesota United (6-5-5, 23 points) with just five games remaining this season.
“I’m hoping for a strong reaction from the team,” Ramos said. “I think we obviously felt disappointed, not only with the last result, but with thewaywe played, particularly in the first half. We are looking to redeem ourselves.”
Within the contextof that broader team redemption will be attacking players’ ongoing effort to regain their finishing touch.
Ramos is satisfied — and quick to point out — that the Dynamo have created chances. They recorded 19 shots on goal to 25 from opponents over the last four games. They’ve been outscored 4-6 in those matches.
But a Dynamo forward — other than Darwin Quintero — hasn’t scored since Sept. 9. Last year’s leading scorer Mauro Manotas has two goals in15matches this year, following a season in which he scored 13 goals in 32 games and 19 goals in 33 games in 2018. He’s currently struggling through an eight-game scoring drought.
“I will overcome that difficult stretch with hard work and dedication,” he said. “I have to keep working, and honestly, this is newfor me. I amnotused to this type of drought, and as a top-level player, you can’t let this define you. I am hungry. I do want to score
goals, and I hope everyone can see that on the field. We had options in the last game. I was shooting on goal. The ball just doesn’t want to go in, and I’ll domy best to change that.”
Under Ramos, the Dynamohave showngreater confidence pushing forward and creating chances. But at this point, his team’s highscoring displays have been more special occasion than the norm.
Over the last year, Houston unloaded wingers Romell Quioto and Alberth Elis. During that timeMemo Rodriguez has evolved and Quintero has arrived, adjusted and carried the team.
But Manotas, who has 33 shots (15 on target) in 965 minutes, has been unable to find a consistent rhythm under Ramos.
“Nothing has changed,” Manotas said through a translator. “I am playing exactly where I want to be. Honestly, after the game against Nashville, that goal we scored (by Quintero and assisted by Manotas), that left me very happy with my ability to get over the hump.
“Nothing about how we want to play has changed. We have new faces on the team, andwe are navigating that adjustment period. It was a little different with Alberth Elis on the team, or Romell Quioto, even now with Tomas Martinez. … Now, I am sharing the front line with Darwin Quintero, and we have developed good chemistry. Ari (Lassiter) is on the other side, and he is new to the team. We are also building good chemistry. That part of it is new, and we are adjusting.”
Even late — and following a bruising loss — Manotas remains confident.
“We will face challenging stretches, but the key for us is to keep believing in our approach, work like we know how to do and with that, surely the victories will come,” he said.