The drive home last night from Robertson Stadium was disappointing mainly because of the late goal conceded by the Dynamo.
Going down to Cancun for the return leg looks alot more challenging at 1-1 as opposed to a 1-0 win that many felt the Dynamo could hold on to last night.
But this is football right?
To be fair none of us should have expected the Dynamo to hitting all the elements of their game and Dynamo manager Dominic Kinnear even admitted on Dynamo All Access with Glenn Davis that spirit and collective play would have to get them through the tough periods . They are only a few weeks into pre-season and that is what we must remember when judging after one game. A lot of unforced errors in the passing department.
Conversely Atlante were on their third game in seven days.
* TACTICS…. As many expected ATLANTE came in defending deeper essentially just playing for the draw intent on matching the Dynamo work ethic.
Did Atlante really play? Not in my opinion. Yet their plan was clear and may also have been based on the fact that they have had a high volume of games in the Mexican league. Was it ugly? Yes. Was it effective in the end and did they get the result they wanted? Yes.
The deep defending Atlante made it difficult for the Dynamo to find their possession game. The high number of rhythm breaking fouls at 42 also chopped the game up.
This coupled with the Dynamo not at their sharpest yet on the ball told alot of the story.
*BEST DYNAMO TIME PERIOD…..It came during the final 20 minutes of the first half and it was also the time period the Dynamo produced their goal.
Flashes of good play and bits and pieces of better possession became evident. A Richard Mulrooney cross in the 31st minute was almost headed in by Kei Kamara forcing a save from Gato Ortiz.
*DYNAMO GOAL….A corner from Brad Davis in the 34th minute found Bobby Boswell who made a great play in the air to put the Dynamo in the lead. Pulling off a defender, actually moving away from goal, Boswell used the pace in the delivery to beat Ortiz with a beautifully accurate header and a 1-0 lead…. Now the push was on for the Dynamo and many felt a second goal was coming with a dis-oriented Atalante…Could the Potros survive this time period?
The Dynamo needed to get the second goal during their best times here at the end of the first half but it never came yet it was agonizingly close.
SUCCESSION OF MISSED CHANCES……Stuart Holden would get in 1v1 against Atlante goalkeeper Ortiz only to make the wrong choice and pass in the 37th minute as the Dynamo again pushed for goal number 2. Shortly thereafter came one of the most spectacular moments of the match as Brian Mullan blew down the right side past the Atlante right back and whipped in a tremendous cross that Kei Kamara timed beautifully leaping into the air and heading spectacularly off the cross bar.
Holden would then get set up by Kamara but shot high.
In the end not getting the second goal towards the end of the first half would be crucial.
SECOND HALF…..the Dynamo would keep trying to find their game but referee Neil Brizan added to the uneven nature to the game with some questionable calls.
The Dynamo in the second half never were able to find the same danger in their game that they did at the end of the first half. They fatigued a bit at the end and ultimately got caught for an equalizer on a corner kick that the Dynamo did not think Atlante deserved.
Off the corner Atlante equalized in a moment of poor concentration by the Dynamo. Atlante were sharper and turned a far post cross back in the middle by Luis Venegas and three Atlante players were far sharper to the ball than any Dynamo and Gabriel Peyrera got the equalizer….
STAR MAN…BOBBY BOSWELL
He was talkative, intense and set the tone from his position at center back in the role of a leader. Might have been a perfect night for him if Atlante had not scored.
Scoring a goal added to it.
OLD SCHOOL
Brad Davis wore the old school black soccer boots .
FANS…….
An excellent turn out from Dynamo fans on a night with a late start at 9pm. Most stuck it out despite the fact it was on the Fox Soccer Channel.
Dynamo supporters groups were in full season form…..
CANCUN BOUND
So the squad will have a few days to tune up for ATLANTE in Mexico including a practice match against Montreal on Saturday at Robertson. Remember the “away goals” rule is in effect so the Dynamo could conceivably draw with a total of 2-2 or higher and go through to the semi-finals. A 0-0 draw will not do it. It is also an opportunity for the Dynamo to get their first ever win in Mexico and lets not forget their amazing 4-4 draw last year at UNAM Pumas.
RUMOR MILL
Do buy the press article of defender Raul Salinas of Club America coming to the Dynamo. The Dynamo front office confirmed their has been no contact.
Many times newspapers, agents etc. use the media to promote or create the sense that a club has interest in a player. This is totally bogus on Salinas and the Dynamo if they sign a defender would look to sign Andrew Hainault the Canadien under 20 player.
Josoph Ngwenya has been playing with the Zimbabwe National team and the Dynamo have offered him the opportunity to come back but Ngwenya is still pursuing playing in Europe.
Ok, you got my thoughts…How about yours? I also would like your thoughts on the Champions League play of yesterday and what about today’s Chelsea vs. Juventus match involving manager Claudio Rainieri.
SUPER SOUNDS
* Led Zeppelin- The Ocean
* Soundgarden- My wave
* Panjabi Hit Squad- Hit Squad Mix
* Link Wray-Rumble
* Kinky- Tonos Rosas
Danish Inspirations
Fiesta Mart
Houston Web Design
Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute
SportTalk 790
Zukowski, Bresenhan & Sinex, L.L.P.
Well, I had lots of time to clap and cheer but the frequent interruptions of the ref was “deflating” to the energy on and off the field in that area. The field LOOKED good but the ball seemed to bounce a lot so maybe it was too dry and hard. I really enjoyed the end zone crews being in such good form and PRESENT! 9 PM is really tough on a work night, though. Sure wish our guys had had MORE time to prepare for this game. I thought that I saw flashes of mid season form and so I am very hopeful for this season. Can’t make it to Cancun, sadly, but will be there for 21 March! Can’t wait!
Joseph N ought to realize that a better future waits for him HERE, period.
I sure thought we had that one wrapped up. I wish the Alante goal would have been a crisply knocked ball into the upper corner of the net rather than the “look what I found” variety. Would be easier to stomach. I think Kei needs to use his athletic ability a little more. He seemed to be stopping and starting and backing into defenders a la Ching instead of using his quickness….Boswell looked good. Sure would be nice to be up one going to Cancun, but just enjoyed being back at the Rob and what a beautiful evening to be outdoors…
We had this one in the bag (in regards to the Dynamo game).
Champions League:
I’m not too happy that Inter drew with Man U., but hey it could have been worse. Red Devils dominated the first half, and we’re lucky that they did not score. 2nd half Inter looked a lot better and confident. Overall it’s good that we (i’m reffering to Inter) that we did not conceed any goals in this game. Looks like a tough task heading into Old Trattford. Impossible? I don’t think so. However Man U. does have the upper hand.
How about that Juhninho free kick goal against Barca??? Amazing!!!!
What the heck is up with the new jerseys? That gray sleeve looks like a spare material that was sown on at the last second. Why did they need to mess with it, it looked fine before.
About the game, I thought the Dynamo looked a like rusty but did okay. James should have gotten a foot or his body infront of the back post ball – that was a garbage goal. The team as a whole needs to focus on playing the ball to an open man after they win a ball. I still think we should take this team even if the next game is in Cancun.
What is up with these ref’s. When we play in Mex. or any other CONCACAF country we always get no calls, and the opposing team gets everything. Why isn’t it recipricated when we play here. I mean their goal came off of a phantom corner kick that was clear the guy from Atlante put it out. First off 42 is rediculous and makes the game look horrible (especially after watching euro champions league games). All I am asking for is if they get a home field advantage we should as well. With that said we can get the job done in Cancun. Lets go boys time to make history!!!
FOREVER ORANGE
I worried that the lack of finishing in the first half would come back to haunt us in the 2nd — and what a cheesy goal to concede. Call me pessimistic, but I don’t like our chances versus Atlante at home, with their fans (not the most passionate of the Mexian league, granted), with the questionable reffing of this tournament, and with us still trying to find our rhythm.
Regarding “Josoph Ngwenya”: Glenn, I thought we had a deal! It’s “Joseph”!
I thought that at times the Dynamo looked very good, more aggresive and in control. That was for stretches. We just aren’t ready for 90 minutes against that kind of quality at this point. But in the final analysis we looked like a team that hadn’t played together for a while, which is what we are right now. Miscommunication at the back between the back line and the goalkeeper is a crystal clear sign that we are still in pre-season. Stuart learning his roll as a more selfish attacking player is something that he will have to grow into. And of course match fitness is something you get by playing and we just haven’t seen the field enough. Even with that if we don’t have one breakdown, we are right where we want to be. Now we have to go into Cancun and win or even it up. That away goal may cost us. But it wasn’t the worst result so we are still in the fight.
The series could have been put away in the first half.
“Dynamo supporters groups were in full season form…..”
This morning felt like I was in off season shape. The throat and legs will have to get used to games again. It felt great to be in the stands again standing with TA.
The result is disappointing but not devastating. We once again showed why it is best to continue to attack the whole game. We bunkered and they broke through.
Oh, well. All we can do now is support them in Cancun and hope for a good result.
They better look for a score and quick,if they can score early, preferbly 2 goals they can win this easily, even if they tie and bunker down, as long as they tie 2-2 or higher!
Ching looked aweful, like in the US mens national team, did nothing all game!
I really believed the soccer gods liked us by giving us Atlante, Atlante is the 4th worst team in their league, how many consecutive games do they have without winning in their league?, 4?, 5?, the fact they can´t win in their league because apparently they are playing their worst soccer in ages, add to that 3 games in 7 days, no Vilar for yesterday´s game and I was sure Atlante was our only real chance at advancing without problems.
Atlante´s game is at their worst, but the 1-1 tie is giving them control over this leg, it is true we are in preseason form, but we got a team that has gone from good to horrible, we had probably the worst team out of the possible contenders, and they knew it, you could even tell that losing by one goal was not bad thing for them.
We will need to have a great game in Cancun, we need fans, if you are a Dynamo exec, you are reading this blog and in need of a loyal fan to go to Cancun, e-mail me, win, wink.
The best thing about last night’s game was the display of confidence and play of Brad Davis! He was the only one that seemed to have some pep in his step (give Mullan credit too).
The Orange can get it done in Cancun, no doubt. Nonetheless, it will take a few adjustments (and a bit more luck than what was in display last night).
Godspeed, Dynamo!!
Why did Dom wait so long to sub?