The Houston Dynamo have put up quite the sporadic array of results lately. After beating Sporting Kansas City, a defensively-stout side, 2-0, they lost to San Jose 3-1. They they shut out Joao Plata’s Real Salt Lake 1-0 before suffering a loss to the same score against the struggling Chicago Fire.
Just when we were about to say that the Dynamo had gotten back on track.
The match at Chicago was odd. Very odd. Everyone watching would have swore up and down that the Dynamo were going to do something, they just never did.
In the midst of it all was the 13 minute cameo by left back DeMarcus Beasley, who was responsible for the Fire’s surprising goal.
I take all responsibility for today’s loss! I shouldn’t have played period.. I let my teammates n fans down n there is no excuse. #100%onme
— DaMarcus Beasley (@DaMarcusBeasley) May 22, 2016
That’s responsible of Beasley, but it’s also overly responsible. Beasley played 13 minutes before having to come off. He shouldn’t have been playing in the first place. To accept responsibility for 80+ minutes of offensive ineptitude is awfully generous of him, but it is unnecessary.
Houston had a whole of of nothing on offense. They controlled 60% of possession, completed 66% of their passes in the opposing half, spent the majority of the game in that half, and only managed to get off ten shots, half of what Chicago got off.
I know what you’re wondering. How is that even possible? Don’t worry, we’re wondering it too. It’s never good when you’re starting striker fails to register a shot, but as mentioned, this Dynamo offense did a whole lot of nothing. Even with all the troops out there – Andrew Wenger, Giles Barnes, Cristian Maidana – they were still unable to put anything threatening on goal. So much so that you had to wonder at one point if they even wanted to be out there.
Chicago’s Gilberto fired more shots than Houston’s starting front four combined. Maidana failed to contribute anything. The only guy who looked remotely interested was Wenger, and he, like always, registered the fewest amount of touches of any other starting player other than the underused Will Bruin.
The Houston defense, other than Beasley’s one gaff, was pretty respectable. At least compared to the offense. They faced a pretty potent counter attack from the Chicago Fire but they were able to deal with it and limit the damage to that one early goal.
Beasley’s claim at responsibility is admirable and it will go a long way with his team mates. Hopefully it doesn’t lift any of the mental blame from the offense, though. They need to understand how painfully ineffective they were so as to avoid it ever happening again. Because that was tough to watch.