The Houston Dynamo returned to the friendly confines of BBVA Compass Stadium to deliver their biggest win of the season, a 4-0 thumping of Orlando City SC. The win is the first in the series for the Dynamo, who were without the MLS leader in goals Erick Torres.
Here are three things we learned after Saturday’s performance:
1. Protecting this house
The Dynamo are one of the best home teams in Major League Soccer, at least to this point, with a whopping 17 goals scored and a +12 goal differential in home matches. Both of those are league-bests to go with their undefeated 5-0-1 home record, second only to Orlando City’s unblemished 5-0-0 record at home.
The problem for Kaká and Co. is that they were playing away, and the fact that it was their second road match in four days didn’t help. Despite the circumstances, the Dynamo are getting the job done at home and picked up their second shutout in the process.
The immediate focus is continuing that form next Friday vs. Vancouver and following that up with some favorable road results to keep their place among the top in the Western Conference as summer approaches.
2. The 4-3-3 makes the dream work [if everyone is healthy]
Much has been made about head coach Wilmer Cabera’s change in formations since moving to the 4-4-2 two weeks ago vs. San Jose and then modifying to a 5-3-2 against Toronto. Cabrera stated after the game that his return to the 4-3-3 was because “the players were ready. Romell (Quioto) was ready to play 90 minutes, and we needed to go back to the 4-3-3 here at home.”
The plan worked to perfection. The Dynamo advantage of a tired Orlando team, was aggressive for 90 minutes and overcame an early substitution due to Eric Alexander’s injury.
The important detail here is in Cabrera’s quote. This was executed because the Dynamo manager had his players healthy and available to pull off his tactical plan (it wasn't until this week that Cabrera stated Quioto and Clark were finally 100% to play).
If the Dynamo become injury-plagued (or affected by international absences) later in the season, don’t be surprised to see the 4-4-2 again when the situation calls for it.
3. The internal competition heats up
We knew the Dynamo have other players beside Erick Torres that can score but, entering this match, Torres accounted for 7 of the Dynamo’s 15 goals. On Saturday night, Elis, Manotas and Quioto all added to their 2017 accounts and showed that you have to pick your poison with this Houston Dynamo.
Torres, now tied with Philadelphia's C.J. Sapong atop the golden boot standings, missed Saturday’s match due to concussion protocol. Though not his fault, Torres could begin to find himself out of the lineup in the same way Quioto did after being sidelined by a dislocated shoulder a few weeks ago.
It all goes back to the internal competition Cabrera wanted to instill for this year, well here it is. Just another champagne problem for Wilmer Cabrera.
