It was just always assumed that Luis Angel Landin's first goal with the Houston Dynamo would be a big deal. He is the first designated player in club history, and he hails from Mexico, a country that has produced soccer talent known the world over.
But last Sunday, his first-half goal somehow got lost in a match -- a disappointing 1-1 tie -- that featured yet another red card for the Orange. That 17th-minute foul by Cam Weaver gave Kansas City a man advantage in what was a huge game for both teams.
Barely nine minutes later, Landin ran behind the Wizards defenders and waited for a perfect cross from Brian Mullan. After three K.C. players watched the ball skip through the goal area, he converted a tap-in that gave the Dynamo a 1-0 lead in the first half.
At the time, it was a huge goal. A win or tie would put the Dynamo into the playoffs, and with the team shorthanded, the goal gave the Dynamo a quick spark in a game that had fans thinking "Oh, no!" from the get-go.
And the celebration needed more skill than the actual score.
Landin ran toward the stands to his left, jumped into a handstand and quickly followed that with a back flip. Obviously excited to score his first goal in orange, Landin said he learned that move from his father, who was in the stands to see his son play at Robertson Stadium.
Seeing his dad, however, was not his primary motivation for putting the ball in the back of the net for the first time with Houston.
"My dad was here, and that provided some extra motivation," said Landin, who will likely get a lot of playing time Sunday when the Dynamo play host to Mexican Primera Division side Monterrey in the first annual Dynamo Charities Cup. "But what I did out there today, what I do out there every time, is for my baby that is on the way.
"It was a nice goal, and I hope it is the first of many more to come."
Some critics will point to a perceived lack of fitness or speed in Landin as reasons for an alleged slow start.
But with the squad in constant flux due to suspensions and international play, Landin is still getting used to the system and his new teammates. One thing is for sure, however. He will get a fair chance from Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear and expect him to get better as his playing time and level of fitness go the same way: up.
Even though the Dynamo gave up the tying goal late in the game, they punched their ticket to the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs. The team will get a chance to avenge last year's opening-round loss to the New York Red Bulls.
And as for Landin, a Dynamo win Sunday would have made his first-ever MLS goal just about perfect.
"I would have liked for my team to win today," said Landin. "That would have made for a complete day today. But we were not able to do it, so that was very disappointing."
Andrew J. Ferraro is a contributor to MLSnet.com
