HOUSTON – Typically, three goals at home are enough to secure a win in MLS.
But the Houston Dynamo’s offensive outburst was matched by their poor defensive organization in Sunday's 3-3 draw with the New England Revolution, a result that was mere seconds away from being a win for the home team before New England's late-game heroics allowed them to snatch victory from the Dynamo.
“It’s frustrating to lose on a goal in the last minute,” said Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle, “especially when you put in so much to win the game against a very good side.”
The Dynamo defense found themselves on the back foot from the kickoff, as the Revolution notched an early goal –a 25-yard screamer from Diego Fagundez.
Swerve. #NERevs#SoccerSundayhttps://t.co/XJsAe7xBO8
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 6, 2016
Fagundez would later nab an assist on New England’s tying goal.
Dynamo defender DaMarcus Beasley chalked up the draw, and the defensive lapses that led to it, as a byproduct of the first game of the season.
“Obviously, there’s going to be bumps along the way. If this happened on July 30, then we have some problems,” said Beasley. “It wasn’t perfect, but I thought we were okay and we’re only going to get better.”
The Dynamo will rue the victory lost, but the team is taking away plenty of positives.
“We had three goals today, but I think we could have had six or seven,” said Coyle. “I’ve said it before … we’re going to be an exciting team to watch.
“We had chance after chance in the first half while we searched for the equalizer.”
The Dynamo directed five shots on target and hit 19 total crosses from open play. Houston captain Giles Barnes scored the Dynamo's third goal, a well-crafted strike that from Coyle’s perspective, demonstrated the team spirit and camaraderie that has been been built in the offseason.
Two of the Dynamo’s offseason acquisitions, Cristian Maidana and Andrew Wenger, were instrumental in these chances, and both notched a goal in their Dynamo debut.
“Today we saw what Maidana can do,” said Coyle. “He’s a wonderful technician. And Wenger gives you pace on the wide areas.”
