HOUSTON – For the third game in a row, Houston Dynamo FC head coach Tab Ramos opted for the same starting eleven but their performance was a mixed bag against MLS Cup favorites LAFC.
Dynamo FC secured a draw when Tyler Pasher opened his scoring account with the Orange minutes after LAFC took the lead in the 55th minute. The draw adds to Houston’s 2-1 loss last week at Portland and their season-opening 2-1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Heading into Saturday’s matchup, Dynamo FC head coach Tab Ramos opted to stay consistent and start the same eleven which has consisted of the following:
📋 The XI is in. @MattressMakers | #HoldItDown
— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) May 1, 2021
Did Ramos consider making changes against LAFC? Yes, and more specifically in the midfield.
“As the week went on, we felt like Memo [Rodriguez] was ready to probably play that position. We thought about getting some fresh legs in the middle,” Ramos said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work out as well as we wanted it to, because we really thought we could attack them more.”
The Dynamo’s attack could have benefited from better play in the middle of the field, an area that Ramos said his team was “just not good enough” against LAFC. Particularly, Ramos wants his team to hold better possession in the middle of the field and string more passes together.
Houston did get opportunities against LAFC in the form of 1v1’s for its wingers. Dynamo got the ball to Fafa Picault and Pasher but neither could make something from it. The equalizing goal in the 57th minute came from Houston pressuring LAFC in their half of the field.
Ramos was happy that his wingers got in 1v1 situations but wasn’t pleased with their effort to convert those chances into goals or more positives plays. Something Pasher said falls on the wingers and forward.
“At the end of the day, our job is to score goals or to create goals. So we got to continue to work together and continue to get better chemistry to you know, create those opportunities,” Pasher said.
“It’s still only the third game and we’re still trying to get an understanding with each other. Most of the guys are new up top or you know, just started playing with each other. So, it’s difficult to come in and just gel right off the bat. You know, it takes time, but undoubtedly, it’s going to come.”
Changes to the lineup could be coming and could be seen as soon as Houston’s next game. One position that could see changes is in the backline at the centerback position.
Boniek Garcia, traditionally a midfielder, excelled at centerback versus San Jose but found himself exposed at times against the Timbers. Garcia had started the previous two games out of necessity with Houston’s other centerbacks injured, or working themselves back from injury. But against LAFC, the decision to start El President was a tactical one.
Centerbacks Alejandro Fuenmajor and Maynor Figuroa — a starter for the last two seasons — were back from injuries and on the bench but Ramos opted for Garcia once again because of his ability to read the ball.
“The choice was purely that we thought that Boniek, again a central midfielder mostly, he’s very good at reading where the ball is going next, and reading the body language of the opposing team,” Ramos said.
“And I felt like, LAFC was not going to be a danger over the top. And I felt like Boniek would be able to read all those through balls that they like to play, and I think he proved that he did a great job with that. So it was purely a technical decision knowing that he can play that position.”
Garcia, who played in his 250th MLS regular-season game, can add emergency centerback to his resume and it’s something that Ramos now has in his back pocket.
Houston (1-1-1, 3 points) visits their in-state rivals FC Dallas on Saturday and it’s a pretty good bet the starting eleven could have some new faces.
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.
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