31601152693395728918820">The Houston Dynamo picked up their first road win of the year and improved to 1-1-3 away from BBVA Compass Stadium thanks to their 3-2 win at Chicago Fire31601152693395728918823">. The Honduran tandem of Romell Quioto31601152693395728918826"> and Alberth Elis31601152693395728918829"> got on the scoresheet for 31601152693395728918830">La Naranja31601152693395728918831"> in the Sunday afternoon nationally-televised match.
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918834">Here are three things to take away from the result:
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918837">1. Winners on the road
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918840">The Dynamo have been dangerous on the road in 2018, taking the lead in all five away matches this year. Seeing out the full three points in the final minutes was the only thing missing as head coach Wimer Cabrera called for “more concentration and more decision on the part of all the players31601152693395728918843">” in the preparation leading up to the match.
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918846">The decisiveness showed from the opening whistle with Quioto putting the Dynamo in the lead four minutes into the encounter. The concentration was on display as the team overturned a 2-1 deficit and held on to a late lead.
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918849">Over the course of his tenure in Houston, Cabrera has mentioned the importance of a strong mentality and Sunday’s affair was the best presentation in that regard. The team can now shift their attention to building up their road form as it will help them rise in the standings and prepare them for potential home-and-away series in the playoffs.
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918852">2. Catracho Connection leading the charge
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918855">The Honduran strike duo of Elis and Quioto is an integral part of the Dynamo success this season. Elis now leads the team in goals (6) and assists (5) after picking up a brace on Sunday and Quioto is not far behind, now the third-highest goalscorer with three and tied with Tomás Martínez31601152693395728918858"> for second in assists with four.
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918861">The way in which the goals were scored – with speed to outrun defenders and the technical quality to finish at that velocity – show what a commodity these two players are in Major League Soccer. Boniek García31601152693395728918864"> also also deserves praise for his work as a defensive midfielder, stepping in during the injuries of Juan David Cabezas31601152693395728918867"> and Darwin Cerén31601152693395728918870">, and the Dynamo stalwart looks as young as ever playing in his seventh season with the club.
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918873">The result of their play has also served to increase competition within the team and lead by example. Mauro Manotas31601152693395728918876">, for instance, was also a threat out wide after connecting with a long through ball from Quioto to draw the penalty that provided the second goal.
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918879">3. Playing for Santa Fe
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918881">There are days in sports when the end result takes a back seat. Quite possibly the biggest show of class and character from the team wasn’t on the field but off it when the players showed solidarity with the community of Santa Fe, TX after the tragic events of this past Friday.
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918884">The players arrived at Toyota Park wearing shirts with the message “Santa Fe We Won’t Forget” in remembrance of the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting. After the match, Wilmer Cabrera concluded his media availability31601152693395728918887"> with the following statement:
31601152693395728918817">31601152693395728918890">"For those families of those innocent kids who were killed, I just want them to know that they are not forgotten and we are thinking about them. We are going to do what we can to try and support them."
31601152693395728918895">Alberth Elis added the following:
“We are mourning, that is why we wore those shirts. This game was for them; thankfully, we could win and dedicate this game to them.”
