HOUSTON – The start of the 2019 MLS season for the Houston Dynamo started in disappointing fashion as the home side squeaked out a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake in front of 16,827 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Houston Dynamo vs. Real Salt Lake: Key Takeaways
- Hoping to build momentum heading into Tuesday’s CONCACAF Champions clash with Liga MX giants Tigres, La Naranja is instead searching for offensive answers to attest for its sole shot on target — the game-tying goal against Real Salt Lake.
- Mauro Manotas strikes again. The Colombian forward scored his third straight goal this calendar year and first for the 2019 MLS season.
- Tomas Martinez’s status for Tuesday’s game against Tigres is unknown as the Argentinian midfielder was subbed out in the 52nd minute for a minor injury.
- Houston had the bulk of possession — 53 percent to Real Salt Lakes’ 47 —but had little to show for it.
- Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera chose to rest defenders DaMarcus Beasley, AJ DeLaGarza, and Kiki Struna, ahead of Tuesday’s bout against Tigres.
Knowing his team has an important clash Tuesday night, Cabrera admitted that it’s normal for his players to have Tigres on their mind while simultaneously playing Real Salt Lake.
In the post-game conference, Cabrera relayed a story he learned from his playing days that’s relevant to the Dynamo’s current situation in splitting focus between the start of the MLS season and the ongoing CONCACAF Champions tournament.
“A coach taught me that when a player gets called up the national team, that player, in the game before leaving for the national team, will not play to their level,” Cabrera said.
“They’ll unconsciously take care of themselves on the pitch to make sure they get to the national team healthy and be able to play.”
Could it be that in Saturday’s 1-1 draw, Dynamo players held back some to get to Tuesday’s game in one piece? It could be a possible answer for the Orange’s sole shot on target.
Memo Rodriguez, one of the Dynamo’s two Homegrown Players on the roster, chalked up the offensive struggles Saturday to the new players on the field and the early season.
“I think throughout the course of the season everyone’s going to get together and know each other better and I think that [offense] will get better over the season,” Rodriguez said.
“I think just playing more minutes and getting into a rhythm and obviously, we have to put what we practice into games to get more opportunities and more shots on goal.”
One player who’s picking up where they left off from a season ago is Manotas. The 23-year-old has scored a goal in each of the Dynamo’s first three games this calendar year.
On Saturday’s game-tying goal it started with Dynamo newcomer Maynor Figuroa slipping a pass to left back Adam Lundqvist on the left wing. The Swedish-defender took a touch before sending a cross into the box.
Manotas, eyeing the play the entire time, tracked the cross and beat Real Salt Lake defender Nedum Onuoha to the spot. The Colombian karate-kicked the ball into the back of the net for the score.
“That’s why I’m here. That’s what the No. 9 is for, to score goals. That’s why I stayed and that’s why they renewed my contract,” Manotas said.
With Week 1 in the books, Houston (0-0-1, 1 point) now gives its full attention to Tigres, who are no doubt one of the remaining favorites in the CONCACAF Champions tournament.
Jesus Acevedo Jr. is the Editor-in-Chief of The Bayoucitian. He’s an award-winning bilingual journalist from Houston, TX. A graduate of the University of Houston, he has written for the Houston Chronicle, La Voz de Houston, MLSsoccer.com, and ProSoccerUSA.
Before becoming a journalist, Jesus spent his early 20s drumming his way across Houston with two bands — Shortcomings and InsertNameHere. The memories that Jesus made as a musician were the seeds that started the idea for the comedy, Houmans: The Series.