Tyler Deric has his signature moment.
After a bizarre three minutes ended with an AJ Cochran red card and Houston going down a man, Deric stoned the penalty kick of one of the league’s premier strikers, Jermain Defoe, before going on to make save after unbelievable save to preserve a critical 1-0 win for the 10-man Dynamo at Toronto FC.
The result was a big gold star on Deric's resume. It was even more important for his club, with the win keeping the Dynamo's playoff hopes alive.
“Tyler’s a monster,” said forward Giles Barnes, who scored the game-winner in the 35th minute. “It’s unfortunate the way he’s got his chance, but he’s like that every day in training. I don’t really expect anything less of him. He’s incredible; he’s a great ‘keeper.”
The standout moment on an impressive night came when Deric stoned Defoe. Deric guessed right on and reacted well to the spot kick, even taking a step before the Brit took his shot.
“We have a system with our goalie coach [Tim Hanley] here,” Deric told the media. “We do a lot of scouting to make sure we can see what players do on their approach to the ball. I got great advice on if a PK happens, this is what you should do, and fortunately I got a hand to it.”
Deric’s play Wednesday is part of a string of solid games that have justified the confidence Houston have shown in him since he signed as the club’s first Homegrown Player in 2009. In six starts since starter Tally Hall went down with an ACL injury, the 26-year-old Deric has given up just five goals and posted three shutouts.
“We all, everybody, had to step up our game, and every single guy did it on the field,” said center back David Horst. “Most of the credit should go to Tyler Deric tonight. He basically stood on his head for most of the game.”
With Deric and the defense containing TFC’s attack, Barnes’ early strike was enough.
Houston flew out of the gates, matching fellow playoff chaser TFC’s early energy and forcing TFC ‘keeper Joe Bendik into several sparkling first-half saves. Barnes scored the match’s lone goal in the 35th minute, besting Toronto defender Nick Hagglund and lacing a shot to the far post that Bendik couldn’t block.
Thanks to Deric and the defense, Barnes’ strike was all the club needed. The win gives Houston’s playoff hopes a shot in the arm, putting them seventh in the East, one point back of sixth-place TFC and four behind Columbus for the fifth and final playoff spot.
“I don’t know if he’s going to be that good every game he plays, but he has the potential to be a very good goalkeeper, and I think he’s fulfilling that right now,” Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said after the game. “He’s been good. I wouldn’t say he’s been a secret, but I want people to know about him, because Tally’s been so good for us and Tyler just hasn’t had the chances to play.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
