3160ym19114983285678636769">The Houston Dynamo collected their second home draw of the season, and it came against archrival FC Dallas. Forwards Erick Torres and Maxi Urruti each scored for their respective sides in the second Texas Derby draw of the season.
3160ym19114983285678636772">Here are three things we learned as the Dynamo completed the first half of their schedule:
3160ym19114983285678636775">1. Torres is developing into a household name
3160ym19114983285678636778">When Erick Torres was brought in ahead of the 2015 season, the organization had big plans for the Mexican striker. It was for moments like this.
3160ym19114983285678636781">In front of a sold-out BBVA Compass Stadium and a national audience on UniMás and Facebook Live, Erick Torres scored a solo goal holding off a top MLS defender Matt Hedges to give the Dynamo the lead. It was also Torres’ first goal in the Texas Derby, a sight fans will want to see replicated often in these rivalry matches.
3160ym19114983285678636784">Torres continues to regain his best form but he is far from the finished product at 24 years of age. After struggling to score in his first two years with the team, Torres scored his 11th goal of the season on Friday and continues to keep pace in the MLS Golden Boot race alongside the Fire’s Nemanja Nikolic and NYCFC’s David Villa.
3160ym19114983285678636787">A lot of people that didn’t know "Cubo" were introduced to him last night. If he continues to score, and score in big games, his name can be synonymous with the Houston Dynamo in the way the casual fan associates Jose Altuve with the Astros, James Harden with the Rockets and JJ Watt with the Texans.
3160ym19114983285678636790">2. Alex on the bench for the first time this year
3160ym19114983285678636793">There was a strange sight on Friday night as midfielder Alex Lima was not in the starting XI. Alex was one of two players to start every game, leaving defender Adolfo Machado as the team’s lone iron man.
3160ym19114983285678636796">It was unusual for a player that has been a regular starter in over half of the Dynamo’s matches in the last two seasons and one that currently leads the team with seven assists. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera’s explanation for leaving him out of the starting lineup was that “the last three or four games he hasn’t been as effective.” Boniek García, on the other hand, impressed the caoching staff with his latest performances and earned the start – a continuing example of the internal competition that has been stressed so much.
3160ym19114983285678636799">Alex did come on in the second half and played 21 minutes against FC Dallas. Ultimately, he didn’t influence the scoreline.
3160ym19114983285678636802">In his last thirteen matches, including Friday’s, Alex has generated 1 goal and 3 assists. Maybe the minutes have stacked up for Alex, but the Dynamo are going to need him refreshed for the second half of their campaign.
3160ym19114983285678636805">3. “El Capitán” should learn its fate on August 23rd
3160ym19114983285678636808">After two draws in the first two Texas Derby matches, we will have to wait till the August 23 match in Frisco to find out which team will keep El Capitán. The most unique “trophy” among MLS rivalries, a Civil War-era howitzer cannon, should learn its 2018 home in that match. In the event of another draw, a potential playoff or Open Cup matchup could resolve the tie (the Dynamo would keep the cannon if there is a draw and no other matches).
3160ym19114983285678636811">Currently, the Dynamo are housing the cannon at BBVA Compass Stadium by virtue of their head-to-head record against FC Dallas in the 2016 season. It’s a gameday tradition for a guest of honor to fire the cannon prior to kickoff, the latest being Miami Heat forward and Houston native Justise Winslow.
3160ym19114983285678636815">Don’t underestimate the value of the cannon. Dynamo diehards will want the cannon to stay in it’s rightful home at BBVA Compass Stadium while FC Dallas fans would love nothing more than to prevent Houston from being able to carry out their gameday tradition for an entire year.
