A Disappointing Performance From the Dynamo Against the Revs Leaves Playoff Hopes in Doubt

Foxborough – After a roughly two hour rain delay at the 13th minute mark and another hour at half time the Dynamo (8-9-7,31 points) put on a dismal performance on Saturday, and even some of Sunday, as the game went on past midnight, were handily defeated 2-0 by the New England Revolution, ending our three game unbeaten streak. Very few bright spots for the Dynamo in this one. Nothing went the Dynamo’s way Saturday night: two rain delays, two goals against, two arguable Dynamo penalty kick no-calls and the inability to connect that ever elusive final pass to even get more than one shot on target. That one lone shot on frame came from Giles Barnes who, for some reason, is playing too far away from goal. This game was frustrating to say the least, we’re better than what was on display last night.

Owen Coyle utilizing a 4-2-3-1 formation yet again, though, in my opinion, has the personnel to utilize a more attacking formation or one that is more possession based like a 4-3-3 or  a 4-4-2, was never able to really threaten the Revs defense. We needed goals and with Will Bruin alone on an island up top for the majority of the game, until replaced by Cubo Torres  for his now customary thirteen to fourteen minutes, couldn’t muster anything remotely dangerous. Barnes should be playing alongside Bruin and not behind, Barnes was receiving the ball so far from goal that he’d run out of steam and be forced to play the ball back slowing down the play, allowing the Revs defense time to get back. Bruin did put in another hardworking shift and was one of the few standouts but was easily contained by the Revs.

To New England’s credit, they swarmed the Dynamo on every play, clogging the channels, keeping us in our own half for almost the entire game. It wasn’t until after the first Revs goal did we start getting a couple long spells of possession, in the 69th minute when a corner kick was not dealt with by the Dynamo and an errant header put the ball on a platter for defender Jose Concalves who powered his shot through traffic for the opening goal. It was too little too late and the Revs were able to take advantage of our pressing for an equalizer in the 87th minute where an outlet pass found Lee Nguyen who dodged an ill-advised slide tackle by David Horst and was able to pick out an onrushing Juan Agudelo who neatly slotted it past Tyler Deric to seal the three points for the Revs.

This was a missed opportunity for the Dynamo a win would have allowed us to keep pace with the Sounders (11-12-2,35 points) after they completely destroyed Orlando City SC today winning 4-0. Our game in hand which will prove invaluable with just nine games left in the regular season. We looked descent in the first half, moving the ball well and creating some chances,after halftime and the second rain delay it was all New England and we could do nothing but hopeful shots from distance that were either blown into the stands or so far wide the Revs just watched it go out for a goal kick. Cubo did look good for the few minutes he played making creative runs and held-up the ball quite well. When we are going to see Barnes, Bruin, and Cubo on the field in the starting line-up is a question on every fans mind.

It’s a similar position the Dynamo seem to always find themselves in, inconsistency for the majority of the season, finding team cohesion in the final few games, sneaking into the playoffs then making a run to the MLS Cup only this time, for the first time, it’s not Dominic Kinnear behind the helm and it remains to be seen if Owen Coyle will be able to bring the Dynamo together as Kinnear had done in years past.  With our Western Conference rival, the Portland Timbers (11-8-6,39 points) currently in 4th place, on the horizon, Coyle will need to get a much better performance out of his men than what we saw last night if we are going to have any hope of being a playoff team.

Next Game: Houston Dynamo at Portland Timbers on 8/21 at 10pm CDT

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