Photo by Troy Taormina/USA Today Sports
By RYAN TOLMICH
On paper, the Houston Dynamo were going to be overmatched Saturday night against the LA Galaxy. However, no one told that to the Houston Dynamo.
Featuring a cameo of a debut from Erick ‘Cubo’ Torres, the Dynamo cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Galaxy Saturday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. The result comes just a week after the Galaxy, led by a debuting Steven Gerrard, thrashed the San Jose Earthquakes and former Dynamo head coach Dom Kinnear, 5-2, with five straight goals.
This time around, it would be the Dynamo that piled on the goals, with the first coming from Will Bruin in the ninth minute.
Bruin’s finish was the result of a peach of a Brad Davis pass, as the U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder played a ball around the LA Galaxy defense from out on the left. Finding Bruin alone in the center of the box, the forward merely had to tap home past Brian Rowe, giving the Dynamo the early 1-0 lead and plenty of momentum.
That momentum continued into the 27th with Davis proving to be the goalscorer.
Receiving the ball at the top of the box from Nathan Sturgis, Davis rocketed a right-footed shot straight into the lower right-handed corner, giving the Dynamo the commanding 2-0 lead.
Leonel Miranda added insult to injury just two minutes from time, giving the Dynamo the team’s third goal to cement a dominant win.
Countering against an overly-aggressive Galaxy side attempting to fight back into the game, Miranda took full advantage after receiving a pass from Rasheed Olabiyi on the break. Dribbling past a defender, Miranda chipped a shot up and over Rowe and into the top corner, sealing an emphatic upset for the home team.
Following the win, the Dynamo return to action Aug. 1 with a visit to Sporting KC, while the Galaxy look to bounce back in an away clash with the Colorado Rapids the same day.
Galaxy awful on the road again
If we played a 4 3 3 with Bruin Cubo and Barnes up top the mids would likely be Davis Clark and Boniek. But i dont see that happening. Ive been pondering the line up possibilities and its a head scratcher for me. Id love to see what other more knowledgeable people think. But I saw Coyle say he cant wait to see Cubo Bruin and Barnes together. So i believe Boniek should be moved centrally at the top of a diamond with Barnes wide right Davis left and Clark/Garrido/Sturgis at the back. Cubo and Bruin up top and a back line of Beasley Horst Rodriquez and S. Williams. BUT…..it is possible we could play a 3 5 2 with Beasley Rodriquez Williams at the back with Garrido/Sturgis and Clark playing in front of them and Davis Boniek and Barnes and Cubo and Bruin up top.
Btown, Dynamo were missing just as many if not more key players as the Gals. Your excuses for the team are as weak as fat Gerrards effort.
Left out OBG.
Should be interesting to see what happens going forward. I would love to see 4-3-3 and have Bruin, Barnes, Torres upfront. But then what would the midfield look like?
not really an upset considering Zardes, Gordon, Gonzalez, Rogers, and even Gio (although granted he hasn’t played yet) were not playing. LA started TWO Galaxy reserve players as well.
To be fair, Houston has not been that good this year, and they were missing Taylor, Barnes, DMB, Sarkodie and Garrido. Granted these are not as many starters, but LA is suppose to be stacked, so missing the players they were should not have crippled the team.
You forgot Penedo. Although as lackluster as the Galaxybwete tonight, doubt he would have made a difference either.