Defending counterattacks key on the road
Vancouver exploited defense twice during loss two months ago
After a season-opening victory, the Dynamo could only muster one point through their three remaining games in March.
Coach Wilmer Cabrera emphasized that his team was growing and making strides, although the record didn’t show it. But, after a thrilling last-minute goal to top the L.A. Galaxy 3-2 on May 5, the Dynamo (3-3-2) have a chance to show how far they’ve come in two months when they travel up to Canada to play the Vancouver Whitecaps again Friday night.
“It was very positive to win, but we still haven’t put the pieces together the way we should. We should have won without receiving those two goals, because we created those two goals against ourselves,” Cabrera said. “Our challenge is now just to continue trying to win away. In order for us to get three points away, we have to fix those issues, and we’re working on that.”
Houston lost to Vancouver 2-1 in March following a 4-0 shellacking of Atlanta United. Vancouver capitalized on a Dynamo shortcoming that several teams have exploited this season, beating Houston on the counterattack.
The Whitecaps (4-5-1) burned the Dynamo on the counterattack twice in that matchup. It happened again most recently against the Galaxy, although Memo Rodriguez produced the late header to capture the win.
“The team never stopped fighting,” Rodriguez said. “I think we look at the little details we need to improve defensively. We did good offensively as well, but we still need little details so we can keep that zero in the back.
“I think the key is going to be that we’re compact defensively, and we make plays on the defensive side.”
Offensively, the Dynamo have been producing, a positive trend as they face a team that’s conceded the third most goals in Major League Soccer this season.
Forward Alberth Elis netted his first goal of the regular season in their March loss to the Whitecaps. Since then, he’s dwarfed the next closest competitor for the league lead in shots on goal with 19 — Sporting KC’s Johnny Russell is second with 14. Elis is also second in total shots and is tied for fourth in goals.
That comes as teammates Tomás Martínez and Romell Quioto have also shined, with Quioto registering a goal and an assist against the Galaxy.
“I feel more comfortable,” Martínez said, “I think that the team is playing way better than last year, because we have better possession. I don’t think we have been outplayed this season. We’ve lost points due to some mistakes, and we are working to fix those so that we can start winning again.”
Elis and Quioto have been particularly dangerous attacking with pace from the flanks, but that very strength has left
them exposed to the counterattacks that have stalled their successes — something that plays to Vancouver’s style.
Houston’s win over the Galaxy pushed it into (way-too-early) playoff contention. The Dynamo sit in sixth place in the Western Conference. A win over third-place Vancouver would vault them into third at best or a tie for fifth at worst.
“It will be a tough game,” Martínez said. “We played against them earlier this season, so I think it will be a similar game. … They will be at home, and we will have to be sharp if we want to win as the away team.”