Quintero strikes twice in 1st win
The Dynamo came into Saturday looking for its first win, as well as its initial goal of the 2022 MLS season. To address the situation, Houston coach Paulo Nagamura made starting lineup changes in the midfield, inserting Darwin Quintero and Coco Carrasquilla, two creative players.
The move paid off for the first-year manager. Quintero scored the Dynamo’s first two goals of the season, lifting them past the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on a cool, pleasant night at PNC Stadium.
“I’m happy with the performance,” Nagamura said. “Everything we worked on this week was to create more opportunities, to be more dangerous up front, and we did that.”
The Dynamo (1-1-1), which showed its bite at midfield, secured three points for the first time this season before a crowd of 13,028.
“It was very important,” Dynamo forward Fafa Picault said. “Better to get it at home.”
The Dynamo needed a positive result Saturday. They were good on both sides of the ball, with a 59 percent possession. The Dynamo had four shots on target,
all by Quintero. Vancouver had two shots on goal.
“We could have had a higher-scoring game,” Picault said. “But overall, we defended, we had some key saves. Everybody did their part and that’s what got us the win.”
In the 72nd minute, Dynamo defender Griffin Dorsey denied a header, preserving a 2-1 advantage. Adam Lundqvist had a huge
block in the 35th minute, one of the Dynamo’s seven blocks.
Houston has been attempting to rise offensively. That came against the Whitecaps, who took on a lot of pressure. The Dynamo appeared to be having fun as they were the aggressor and played with energy.
Quintero’s goal in the 33rd minute drew the team level after Vancouver (0-1-2) went up 1-0 in the 14th minute.
Quintero put the home side ahead 2-1 in the 50th minute.
A pass from Sebastián Ferreirra ended up at the feet of Quintero, whose right-footed blast from distance found the net for the game-winning strike.
An emphasis during Dynamo training this week was improving the offense and playing a pressing game against the Whitecaps.
Over its first two games
Houston played patient, looking to counter without being exposed defensively. On Saturday, the Dynamo had intentions to score.
Through three games, the Dynamo have been good collectively on defense, conceding only two goals in 270 minutes of play.
Lucas Cavallini produced Vancouver’s first goal of the season on a whipped-in cross from Cristian Dájome in the 14th minute that Cavallini side-footed home for a quality finish. On a run from Dájome, Cavallini got between two center backs and placed the ball where goalkeeper Steve Clark was helpless.
The early score put the Dynamo in position to be more creative.
“This team showed a lot of character,” Nagamura said. “We bended, but we never broke. We conceded first, we never changed the way that we wanted to approach the game. The guys believed. We were very disciplined.”
Houston got back in the match and drew level in the 33rd minute. Corey Baird and Quintero got behind the defense. A great ball from Carrasquilla found Baird, who had a nice touch to an open Quintero, who only had to tap the ball in with the goal unattended.
The Dynamo look to capitalize on an early heavily weighted home schedule. Starting with next Saturday’s 7:30 home game with Colorado, three of their next four games will be played at PNC.
Houston is determined to bolster its attack. Earlier this month the club signed 31-year-old Héctor Herrera to a pre-contract. However, the Mexico international won’t join the Dynamo until his contract expires this summer with Atlético Madrid. Houston general manager Pat Onstad describes Herrera as a differencemaker who is good in possession.