The Houston Dynamo continued their unbeaten home form (6-0-1) against a Whitecaps team that came in having won two consecutive road games. The 2-1 victory caps off a stretch of seven home games out of the first 10 matches to start the season.
Here are three things we learned from Friday night’s win:
1. The defense was the key to victory
As a group, they’ve been improving game by game, collecting two shutouts in the last two home matches. The shutout eluded them in this game but they contained a good road team and one that, unlike the last two opponents to come to BBVA Compass Stadium, came in with the advantage of a week’s preparation.
Head coach Wilmer Cabrera mentioned in his post match press conference that he is proud of the way his defense is improving and that “penetrating through our back four” hasn’t been easy for anyone. Whitecaps FC forward Fredy Montero, the team’s leading scorer, had similar comments after the game.
“It’s a complicated defense,” said Montero. “When they can clear a ball, they do so and they are very consistent. They are aggressive too in the midfield. I think that Juan David Cabezas by himself runs box to box and he brings the team together. We couldn’t take advantage of the space we had in the first half and we finally scored a goal towards the end, but we didn’t have enough time to get more.”
2. Adolfo Machado has quickly become a leader of this team
He’s not officially a captain of the team, but Machado has developed into a leader with his actions on the field. The 32-year-old Panamanian, who was the captain at his previous club, has shown the qualities in Houston that made him beloved at Costa Rican club Saprissa.
Machado came into Friday’s match tied for the league lead in interceptions and has played every minute of the 2017 season, the only Dynamo player to do that. His leadership and organization of the defense have been key, especially with a Dynamo that has featured a lot of rotations in the back four due to injuries.
Machado has been the constant on this team and his passion for the club can best be described by his run with the ball as time expired to assure the victory.
3. Wilmer’s always looking at the bigger picture
Dynamo Academy product Memo Rodriguez made his home debut on Friday night after making his MLS debut earlier this season at New England. His substitution was made in the 81st minute (when the Dynamo had a 2-0 lead) at a perfect time to get him some meaningful MLS experience.
Andrew Wenger also got his first minutes since being subbed on three games ago in the home win over San Jose Earthquakes. These were important minutes for Wenger to regain some rhythm ahead of the Dynamo’s two road games in the same week, games where Wenger could feature in the starting lineup.
I attribute these moves all as part of Cabrera's commitment to the bigger picture. Of course these are substitutions that also help in the moment, but it’s keeping in mind the 34-game-marathon that is the MLS regular season with making and being prepared for the playoffs as the end game.
