The Dynamo rebounded from a defeat to Charleston in Saturday’s Carolina Challenge Cup opener with a decisive 2-1 victory over MLS newcomers New York City FC on Wednesday. Brad Davis scored the opening goal and assisted on Boniek Garcia’s header as the Dynamo opened a two-goal lead before Mix Diskerud pulled NYCFC within a goal with ten minutes remaining.
Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle raved about the quality of Houston’s two goals in the second of three games in South Carolina as the Dynamo close out the preseason at Blackbaud Stadium for the third straight year.
“We are delighted with the quality on the two goals,” Coyle said. “The first goal involved a 10-pass move, starting on one side of the pitch and moved to the other, with intricate play and a great cross from Kofi Sarkodie and a wonderful finish from the skipper (Davis). On the second, DaMarcus Beasley strung it down the left to the skipper and he was composed and cut inside and good movement in the box (by Garcia) led to the goal.”
For Garcia, the headed goal was a rarity. Unofficially, it was the second goal from a header in his career after the Honduras World Cup veteran tallied his first in July 2012 against D.C. United.
A key ingredient in both tallies was the presence of Houston’s outside backs. On the opener, Sarkodie pushed forward from the right and delivered a pinpoint cross for Davis to finish. For the second, Beasley recovered the ball at midfield and slalomed forward 40 yards before slipping a short pass to Davis, who did the rest.
“It is something we are trying to encourage,” Coyle said. “We have Brad (Davis) and Boniek (Garcia) and sometimes they like to come in off the touchline and if they do then there is space for the fullbacks to join in on the play. That can only happen when the strikers have secured possession and bring them into play and the first goal is a good example of that. The ball comes up to Will Bruin and he takes a nice touch and lays it off and the fullbacks can join in.”
After praising the goals, Coyle leveled his thoughts on the match with his judgment of the late goal the Dynamo conceded to Diskerud.
“On the downside, I certainly don’t like to give up goals, so I think because we were comfortable at two-nil, we probably just took the foot off the gas, and we made a number of changes (to the lineup), as they did. When you get a lead you want to make sure you are giving nothing away, and soft goals are avoidable, and I certainly feel (NYCFC’s goal) was. So there was one or two things in the end that we can work on.”
Wednesday was just the second time this preseason Ricardo Clark and Luis Garrido have played together in the center of midfield. The pair started together in 11 of the final 14 games last season but had only spent 45 minutes in tandem this preseason after Garrido’s Honduras national team duties and Clark battled sickness.
“When they are together, I think that is a very effective partnership, but we know there is good competition in that area. Clark and Garrido are two wonderful players. Clark has been a champion all his days and certainly knows how to play the game. Garrido is such a young talent with a scope for developing, so of course those two together I think would be a very good partnership. Ricardo has been unwell for four or five days with flu and cold symptoms, but he wanted to play on Wednesday and he even still wanted to stay on when I took him off (in the 71st minute). “
Coyle also was pleased with the defensive organization by his side, particularly a smooth transition after David Horst replaced Raul Rodriguez in the 31st minute after the Spanish center back felt pain in his hamstring.
“We think we have good players, who can provide competition for places and they did very well. David Horst came in, and had a little niggle as well, so for him to come in and play at the level he did (was very promising) after Raul was taken off as a precaution to make sure he didn’t do any more damage. They looked very comfortable and we have given up very few chances (this preseason), so we have to make sure that during the course of a game we try and reduce the chances to a minimum.”
Coyle is optimistic in Rodriguez's recovery as the club monitors his hamstring.
“Raul felt a twinge in his hamstring and immediately we weren’t taking any chances. He got up Thursday and feels slightly better, so he has something there that tweaked that, so that is something we will look to make sure we manage.”
After more than a week in the Holy City, the Dynamo cap the 10-day Charleston trip on Saturday against another 2015 MLS entrant, Orlando City SC. Saturday’s game (Watch live at 4 p.m. CT at www.HoustonDynamo.com) will serve as a preview for the regular-season encounter between the clubs in the second week of the season, March 13 at BBVA Compass Stadium.
“We want to continue to step up and certainly I feel we did that on Wednesday and we will have a tough game on Saturday (against Orlando City SC). They have invested so much financially with the players they’ve brought in and they will be a big player in the league this year, I have no doubts, as will New York City. It is important that we are ready to be respectful of our opposition but impose ourselves on the game and that’s what I want moving into the weekend, a good performance that is ready to take us into the start of the new season.”
