Countdown to Opening Day: #17, Dynamo scored 17 goals in final 15 minutes of games in 2012
Countdown to Opening Day: #17, Dynamo scored 17 goals in final 15 minutes of games in 2012
With the Dynamo set to begin the 2013 season in just 17 days – against D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 2 – we are counting down to kickoff with a Dynamo-centric countdown to opening day. See bottom of this post for the complete countdown list.
Each day, we’ll post a short description of what makes the number significant. If you have any Dynamo-related numbers of your own, post them in the comment section below.
Today, we continue with #17:
The Dynamo scored 17 goals in the final 15 minutes of games in 2012. The number of late goals is easily a franchise record, eclipsing the previous mark of 14, set in 2011.
Houston rallied for 14 wins, salvaged a lot of important ties and completed an unbeaten home schedule in 2012. What is one thing that helps make all three possible? Late goals.
It is simple: A late goal can turn a tie into a win, a bad loss into a draw, and of course, preserve a home unbeaten streak and undefeated home season. The Dynamo specialized in late-game dramatics in 2012, with 17 goals after the 75th minute of regular season games. Houston scored a total of 48 regular season goals in 2012, with the goals in the final 15 minutes of matches accounting for a full 35% of its goals.
17 late goals in a season is historic, with only the 2012 San Jose Earthquakes (22) and 2009 Real Salt Lake (19) scoring more goals after the 75th minute in a season since the Dynamo entered the league in 2006.
Consider this: With 17 goals after the 75th minute in 34 regular season games, the Dynamo averaged a late goal in half of their games.
Now there are reasons why generally more goals are scored late in games. Players are tired and perhaps more mistake-prone, and teams that are desperate for a goal take more risks, leading to more goals in their favor and also leaving them vulnerable to allow a goal. Still, the Dynamo's 17 goals in the final 15 minutes of games set a franchise standard for clutch.
Most late goals in a season (since 2006)
| Year | Club | Late Goals (76th minute or later) |
| 2012 | San Jose Earthquakes | 22 |
| 2009 | Real Salt Lake | 18 |
| 2012 | Houston Dynamo | 17 |
Late goals that helped the Dynamo achieve important results in 2012:
| Date | Opponent | Goal scorer | Minute | Result |
| March 12 | @ Chivas USA | Andre Hanianult | 92+ | 1-0 Win |
| April 21 | @ Columbus | Brian Ching | 81 | 2-2 Draw |
| May 19 | @ New England | Luiz Camargo | 87 | 2-2 Draw |
| June 16 | FC Dallas | Adam Moffat | 76 | 2-1 Win |
| June 20 | Toronto FC | Will Bruin | 90 | 3-3 Draw |
| June 30 | Philadelphia | Brian Ching | 82 | 2-1 Win |
| July 18 | Sporting KC | Calen Carr | 79 | 2-1 Win |
| August 19 | Columbus | Adam Moffat | 82 | 2-2 Draw |
| September 6 | Real Salt Lake | Colin Clark | 94+ | 1-0 Win |
| September 29 | New England | Ricardo Clark | 77 | 2-0 Win |
Houston Dynamo late goals, year-by-year
| Year | Total goals | Goals after 75th minute |
| 2012 | 48 | 17 |
| 2011 | 45 | 14 |
| 2010 | 40 | 8 |
| 2008 | 45 | 8 |
| 2006 | 44 | 8 |
| 2009 | 39 | 5 |
| 2007 | 43 | 5 |
Complete Countdown to Opening Day List:
#18 - Dynamo have lost just 18 MLS home games in seven years
#19 - Dynamo finish 2012 with franchise best +19 home goal differential
#20 - Brad Davis' combined goals and assists in 2011 and 2012
Return to the blog on Thursday for number 16 on our countdown to opening day.