Mauro Manotas with arms stretched
Mauro Manotas celebrates his 12th goal of the season, which put the Dynamo up against Minnesota United FC. (Courtesy of Houston Dynamo)

Dynamo get first win under Arnaud, post first shutout since July 3

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HOUSTON – The Houston Dynamo snapped a seven-game winless streak and got back to the winning ways in a 2-0 victory over visiting Minnesota United FC.

Additionally, Houston got their first win under interim head coach Davy Arnaud. The win is only La Naranja’s third over the last 18 league games.

And while the win is the first for Arnaud as a coach, after the game, the Texan-native said the three points were more important for his players.

“Most important for me is the win for the guys, for the team,” Arnaud said. “They put in a lot for the last three weeks — for a long time now — but particularly the last three weeks, they put a lot into it. And I’m extremely happy for them that we have three points.”

Two forward set sparks attack

Houston opted for a two-forward lineup against the Loons and it paid off. The Orange got a goal apiece from its two starting forwards, Mauro Manotas and Christian Ramirez.

Manotas nabbed his 12th of the season in the 37th minute after DaMarcus Beasley whipped in a low cross to the box which Manotas smashed to the back of the net through the traffic of Loon defenders.

Seven minutes later, Ramirez doubled up the Orange’s lead. Manotas played a one-two with Tomas Martinez, upon receiving the ball back, the Colombian forward slipped a pass to Ramirez who had gotten behind the Loon’s defense.

Ramirez got the ball and chipped it over Minnesota ‘keeper Vito Mannone for his second goal with the Dynamo, and third against his former team.

While both players have only played a short amount of games together, the two have shown to be a formidable duo when paired up.

Ramirez said the two have built a rapport because they understand each other’s movements and are both unselfish players in the box.

“My first goal [with the Dynamo] he made an unselfish run in the near post and I was open. And his goal against Colorado here [at BBVA Stadium] I made a near-post run and he was open,” Ramirez said. “So it makes it nice when a forward is so unselfish and I think playing in a two-forward system you both have to give up some stuff, we both know that.”

While they may have given something up, it’s added to the team’s attack, and Wednesday’s game was evidence of that. And it’s something Arnaud alluded to after the game as to why he decided to go with a two forward system against the Loons.

“I think our best performances in the last few weeks have come when those two guys have been playing together as a pair,” Arnaud said. “So for us, it made sense tonight. Obviously, they each get a goal, which is very good. I’m happy for those guys.”

Defense holds up

Aside from nabbing three points at home, it’s also the team’s first clean sheet since July 3, which just happened to be the last time the Orange won at home.

The long stretch in between shutouts was a surprise to Arnaud, who was unaware it had been that long.

In that same answer, he praised the defensive work of Kevin Garcia and Alejandro Fuenmayor, who were paired up as center backs. And mentioned the work that Adam Lundkvist, who normally lines up at left-back, did playing on the opposite side.

“It’s not easy when you look at Kevin [Garcia] and Alejandro [Fuenmayor] who haven’t been involved a lot, we’re having to play Adam [Lundkvist] as a right-back, we’re playing him out of position, you know when you talk about character and personality and all the things that are important to us in what we’re doing, those guys showed it,” Arnaud said.

“They’ve [Kevin and Alejandro] had a game here or there with RGV [FC], but this is different so their response tonight I was extremely happy with and obviously the clean sheet was very good, I am happy for Joe [Willis] as well. I thought Joe was very good tonight with the moments that we needed him to be.”

And while Manotas isn’t often asked about the team’s defense, the forward made a point to bring it up post-game.

“Defensively we had a great game,” Manotas said. “They had a couple of clear options to score but we were great and had a great first half. They leveled a little bit but we’re happy with the victory. We hope to continue with these victories.”

While Houston is still mathematically alive in the playoff chase, the three points, more than anything, gives the team a bit of confidence back.

Houston (10-15-4, 34 points) now moves on to a road game Saturday night against the Vancouver Whitecaps, who sits last in the Western Conference standings.