The Houston Dynamo salvaged a 3-3 draw at home against the LA Galaxy. The midweek bout featured a comeback driven by 21-year-old forward Alberth Elis, featured in MLSSoccer.com’s 24 under 24.
Here are three things we learned:
1. Alberth Elis is a big-time player
Alberth Elis is a force to be reckoned with in Major League Soccer. The Honduran national team forward put the team on his back on Wednesday night to produce a double in the comeback draw.
Elis took the onus on himself to take the penalty attempt after drawing the initial foul, which became the second goal, and scored the third goal to tie the game. The effort – rightfully so – earned him Man of the Match honors.
“We all want to make it into playoffs, and to do so we have to win on Saturday,” Elis said after the match. As fired up as he was on Wednesday, expect the San Pedro Sula native to bring it again on Saturday night against Minnesota (7:30 p.m. | TICKETS).
2. Tomás Martínez scores his first goal
Tomás Martínez scored his first goal as a member of the Houston Dynamo in the 26th minute of Wednesday’s match, providing the first spark for the comeback.
While he still needs more time to build full cohesion with the rest of his teammates, Martínez has quickly adapted to the style of MLS, playing in seven straight games with three consecutive starts. Against the Galaxy, he fended off defenders to score on an individual play and get the Dynamo back in the game after a poor start.
The Dynamo attempted several shots on goal but few were going in, including a Romell Quioto attempt that hit the post and bounced out. The Martínez goal was the confidence builder the Dynamo needed to fight back into the game and make the comeback.
3. This is the most explosive offense in Dynamo history
The Dynamo set a new club single-season scoring record with their 48th, 49th and 50th goals of the season. With four games left in the season, believe it won’t stop there.
The likes of Erick Torres, Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto have led the way with guys like Vicente Sánchez, Alex and a variety of other players complementing the Dynamo attack. Together, they are one of the top offenses in Major League Soccer and the most productive that Houston has seen.
It will take a collective effort – home and away, offense and defense – to grind out results but the Dynamo have proven that they have the firepower to compete with anyone in the league. As the team pushes for the playoffs, it would be a mistake to underestimate such a potent offense.
