HOUSTON – If the Houston Dynamo wants to continue moving towards the playoffs they’ll have to do it with their depth one more time, as Boniek Garcia has been ruled out for Saturday’s game with the Philadelphia Union with a concussion.
The Honduran star has been ruled out of the match (7 pm ET, MLS Live) after leaving last week’s game at halftime following a head-to-head collision. Following the game head coach Dominic Kinnear said the midfielder reported having blurry vision.
He’ll miss the next big game of the season, a road game at fourth place Union, along with injury holdovers Will Bruin (right foot sprain) and Jermaine Taylor (concussion). Add in starting goalkeeper Tally Hall’s season-ending ACL injury, and it’s just another chance for Houston’s squad to come through.
“We, like other teams, have been hit with a big injury bug at times,” head coach Dominic Kinnear told MLSsoccer.com Thursday. “I don’t think any team could rival our three ACLs, but Brian Ownby’s played some good minutes and Omar [Cummings] has come through in a good pinch here. Guys are dying to play and I think it’s been a good opportunity for them.”
One player that been in on the reserve rescue wagon, Corey Ashe, is also ruled out on the injury report with a knee sprain. He had pitched in for three games in place of the injured DaMarcus Beasley and suspended Kofi Sarkodie.
Looking at who could take Garcia’s spot Andrew Driver and Ownby are logical choices. Driver has the experience and has played on the right side for the club a number of times, but Ownby has continually earned more time on the field and trust from the coaching staff with good performances this season.
They’ll join a group that’s played a big role in Houston’s recent success, especially in the attack.
Cummings has stepped in for Bruin and performed very well. Next to him is Giles Barnes, who has led the attack, taking Bruin’s role and turning the opportunity into three goals in two games.
“I think quite a lot of my goals come from me making something outside the box and hitting it and going from there,” Barnes told MLSsoccer.com. “Now I’ve got hanging off the end of defenders and getting one-on-one with the ‘keepers which is a little bit easier than hitting one from 30 yards all the time.”
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That ability to pick goals up in front of has been boost, according to Kinnear. “When [Barnes] gets his nose pointed ahead or towards the goal it’s a positive for us,” the Dynamo boss said. “When he finds those areas, whether it’s coming from deep or up high, he’s been having good form of late for sure.”
Whoever replaces Garcia will have to help keep the attack going. Houston are 4-2-1 since Aug. 3rd scoring 11 goals. However, they’ve given up 10 as the league’s third worst defense – conceding 50 goals altogether — continues to try and find its legs in a game in Philadelphia that, with a win, would propel Houston’s playoff hopes forward.
“East is playing East and I’ve said this all along that when you’re playing teams above you the best way to catch up is to win,” Kinnear said.
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
