The Houston Dynamo extended it's unbeaten streak to seven game across all competitions with Wednesday's 4-1 trashing of the Vancouver Whitecaps. [Chris Jones | The Bayoucitian]

Ben Olsen: “We have to hang our hat on our defense”

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HOUSTON – The Houston Dynamo are in a groove.

Across all competitions over the past seven games, Houston has scored 18 goals while only conceding three and gone unbeaten in seven straight matches in a single season since 2012.

Quite frankly, Houston has been shredding the competition. The Dynamo have scored more than two goals in five of the seven games and more than three goals in four of the seven.

Among the 18 goals are the four Houston scored on the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday night in a 4-1 rout. And while the offensive output is a joy to watch for fans, Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen knows there have been times when his side can’t find the back of the net.

“We’ve had days like this at home, where the goal seems big, and we’re creating the right amount of chances. I don’t think it was a crazy amount tonight. We actually had a lot more against St. Louis [on Saturday], and maybe even better chances,” said Olsen. “It was one of those nights where the goal seemed big, and we’ve had those more times than not here at home.”

Knowing how his team can go on a cold streak despite creating chances, Olsen insists Houston’s defense needs to be up to par game in and out.

“We’re gonna need to hang our hat on that [defense] consistently, because there’s days where we don’t score four goals,” said Olsen. “There’s days where we score one, and to be able get those results is very important as well.”

During its unbeaten streak, Houston has clamped down on opponents, giving teams few chances to score. Of the three goals it conceded during its current seven-game unbeaten streak, one was an own goal, and another came in the waning minutes of a match.

Only three MLS teams have conceded fewer goals this season than Houston’s 33.

“It’s collective,” said Olsen on what he attributes his team’s current defensive stability. “It’s everybody doing the work. We’re not a group where you look out and see one guy’s walking, or jogging. Everyone’s engaged in the defensive process for us and that helps. It gives you a chance.”

Squad competition strengthens the team

Houston got a boost to its defense when it welcomed back DP center back Teenage Hadebe. The Zimbabwean international played for the first time since April. In that time, the Dynamo have used a rotating center back lineup that includes Micael, Erik Sviatchenko, and Ethan Bartlow with the first two racking the bulk of the minutes.

With Hadebe back, competition for playing time in the backline will have to be earned and the DP center back welcomes it.

“I’m not just here to get numbers,” said Hadebe. “It is also good for the team to have depth, whenever someone is not playing, we still have to call them. I was happy with the guys with the way they were playing once I was injured, they did a great job.”

Hadebe’s goal is to finish the season strong and help the team make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Competition for playing time in the back line isn’t solely with the center backs. Griffin Dorsey knows this all too well. The former winger-turned-defender started the season on the bench, playing inconsistently before locking down the right-back position in July.

Dorsey’s runs down the right wing have given Houston an offensive look it didn’t have to start the season. His runs were on display Wednesday night when he scored Houston’s second goal. And while he enjoys scoring and running down the flank, the former Indiana Hoosier knows the team will only go as far as its defense allows it.

“I think everyone knows defense wins championships. So, if we don’t concede we have a better shot at winning. That’s just the bottom line,” said Dorsey. “And it’s a balance because you still want to attack and you want to be on the front foot but you want to make sure that you’re not giving up cheap goals.”

Dorsey went on to attribute the Dynamo’s string of excellent defensive performances to the team’s communication, particularly the words from Sviatchenko.

Dorsey’s words rang true in Wednesday’s match as Sviatchenko could be seen talking to Dynamo keeper Steve Clark in the 55th minute.

While the type of goals Houston has been scoring from open play have fans and media pundits heaping them praise, Olsen reiterates that’s not always the case, which is why Houston has to “hang our hat on our defense and be committed to figuring that part out, so it gives us a chance.”