MLS Cup 2011: Despite a Valiant Effort, Dynamo Fall 1-0 to LA Galaxy
by Zach Woosley on Nov 21, 2011 9:34 AM CST
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The morning after losing a championship game is never enjoyable. Despite the fact that you tell yourself ahead of time, it's just great to be here, no one expected us to make this run, we're playing the best team in the league, all the things to try to prepare yourself mentally, it sucks.
Fortunately for Dynamo fans, the 2011 season which at one point looked on the verge of being a second straight season without playoffs, turned in to a magical run all the way to the brink of a third MLS Cup. Alas, that wasn't in the cards as Houston fell 1-0 to the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center on Sunday night.
The Dynamo played the game they wanted to play, got the breaks they needed to get, but were ultimately undone by a wonderful bit of passing between Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan and their ultimate inability to replace Brad Davis in the offense. There were chances, there were moments, but it always felt like an inevitability that the Galaxy would get their goal, but the Dynamo were not embarrassed and they did their fans proud in pushing the best team in MLS nearly to extra time in the final.
What we learned above all last night is that fact that this team needs a second creative midfield force. With the true MVP Brad Davis out of the game, the likes of Corey Ashe and Danny Cruz couldn't create the type of offensive flow that Houston needed. It's not a knock on these two guys, they played hard and did the best they could, but trying to fill the huge empty shoes left by Davis' absence would be a tall task for anyone (and that wasn't a short joke, I promise).
The defense was strong all night, Luiz Camargo and Adam Moffat virtually erased Landon Donovan from the game and if not for his one run and goal, he would have been a virtual non factor. Tally Hall was superb in goal, Geoff Cameron and Bobby Boswell great in the middle, it just was an all around strong performance and the Dynamo were fairly beaten by the better team.
As we now walk away from the 2011 season, we as Dynamo fans can smile and know that we've got a young team that has learned a great deal this year and should have a great deal of confidence going in to next season. More importantly, we have a new downtown stadium ready to open in May and a ton of momentum from the fantastic close to this season...and we're playing in the CONCACAF Champions League!
Lots to be excited about despite the loss and lots to be proud of...except for the small group of knuckleheads in the Dynamo supporters section that were throwing a battery and mini-flashlights (I think) at Dononvan and David Beckham as they attempted to take a corner kick in stoppage time. You know who you are and you embarrassed yourselves and Dynamo fans. That's all that needs to be said about that.
The work never ends though, the expansion draft is coming up soon so let's get back to work. 2012 season here we come!
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Very nice recap Zach
I posted on Twitter this morning that I was still down in the dumps about last night, but then when I drove in to work this morning, I got a look at Dynamo Stadium and BOOM!
Optimism restored.
It was indeed a magical run, and we saw very quickly last night that without Davis it was hard for Dynamo to establish much in the way of a creative or sustained attack. And boy, if anyone is going to look at the whole “what’s valuable” argument again, it’s hard to argue against Davis’ value after watching that game last night! It may not ultimately have made THE difference, but it sure would have made a big one.
I have nothing but pride for my Dynamo boys this morning, and later this week I’ll probably think about who I want back and who not for next year. (Quick take: Camargo, WANT BACK! Watson? HULK SMASH if Watson come back.)
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
I'm still questioning Watson's intro to the game
What was Dom really trying to do? Honestly I thought we would see the Bear come in but instead a poor link comes in. Watson doesn’t for the Dynamo system at all. He might fit better in another MLS team with a better fitting formation. I can see him with Vancouver, NE, or the Crew. Maybe Montreal
by RedAce on Nov 21, 2011 1:33 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Exactly
I knew it was over when Watson came in…I mean sure, he COULD have done something special, but the odds were much better that he’d be anonymous or do something foolish defensively. I do agree completely with you that I think he’s an MLS player, just not here and that I think he’d find a home in one of the Canadian teams (Vancouver, TFC or Montreal).
We had options but Dom chose not to use them…we can only guess as to why, but then again some of us (myself included) second-guessed him during the season yet we ended up in the final. That might’ve been the best luck ever or Dom is privy to things we’re not. But I do also wish he would’ve put out a line-up with a few variations, such as starting Clark instead of Ashe (and using Ashe as LB), but I can see why he would’ve started the line-up he did.
Thanks
I think you said it all perfectly, Ginge. I know I know, I’m doing the whole “well, we were playing with house money” thing since last night, but it still hurts not being the ones to lift the trophy. That being said, we played well last night, in fact you could say we’ve been playing above our level but we met a team that simply played better than us when it counted. That’s a crap reality but it is what it is. That also being said, its something that a team with 1/5 the payroll of the All-Conquering, GOAT LAG (well that’s what ESPN kept telling me) pushed them to the brink. We have good, young talent that just got a taste not only of the playoffs, but of playing for a cup. I hope and pray it drives them next season to get back there and know what its like to hoist the trophy, and it is entirely possible next season.
The expansion draft is the first part of it, as we now see part of management’s plans as they have to designate who is off-limits and who isn’t. Also, Camargo earned his keep and then some. But we’ll talk more about this and other stuff later…for now, we ended the season on a damn strong note, we still have a young team and we have a new home next year! We have a great future ahead of us and I can’t wait to bring the cup next year to the new Dynamo Stadium!!
Also
Seeing as how we’re only going to play nine games against Western foes and 25 against Eastern, there’s no reason to think we won’t be Supporter’s Shield contenders.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Just saw that...
The Harkespocalypse is over one day too late. Apparently, the Captain For Life is no longer ESPN’s lead color guy for footy.
Q: If Dynamo have to lose the title game for this to happen, is it worth it?
A: Uhhhhh. Can I answer this question later?
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
Couldn't take it
I watched large swathes of the match with it on mute…I simply couldn’t take it. At first it was funny in a human-trainwreck way, but after a while it just became unbearable. And really, listening to the way they spoke about Beckham and his team (‘cause its not LAG, its just Beckham’s team) after the first 15 minutes started to resemble this:
Just awkward, all around.
Same here
My TV was on mute for pretty much the entire second half. Just felt sorry for Ian Darke to constantly have to cover for that guy.
Plus, the Beckham love was just too deep for my work boots to slog through.
"We don't care who finishes second." -- Celtic's Peter Lowrie
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