Dynamo Collapse Late, Fall 2-1 to the Colorado Rapids

At halftime, Marty turned to me and asked if we had had any shots in goal. Being completely mesmerized by the Mike Sorberesque attack mentality, I couldn’t really answer.

Zach tweeted the game needed a shot of cocaine. Ironically, Colorado began the second half with confidence, which seemed to build despite going behind. Perhaps the Dynamo snorted early in the interim and were coming waaay down in the final 45 minutes.

At the end of the game, a guy sitting to our right yelled at the ref for making us lose. Granted, there were a few idiotic calls, but these didn’t seem to influence much. Another guy commented we would have tied or won if not for Tally.

Hall telegraphed his vulnerability when he punted straight into a Rapids forward, resulting in a fortuitous bounce. This didn’t go unnoticed. Colorado ran at him at every opportunity; he seemed to be holding the ball too long. There was a sense of lurking danger on several goal kicks, kicks usually ignored by opponents or attended by half-hearted runs. Not this night. A little ingenuity by Smith combined with a hubric gaffe by Hall and suddenly we’re deadlocked again.

I’m not sure if Clark had any positive contribution before or after his goal. In American football, if you drop several passes in a row, this means you will be unmarked for the Hail Mary late in the game. Clark buried an easy shot, which was good, but contributed little on either wing unless you count those Joe Schlobotnik backpasses. After several unforced errors, I began to miss Cruz. Danny can at least turn the corner. It’s the finished product that needs work. Clark may have come 10 or 20 yards of the corner flag once- pitiful for a man lauded in his preinjury days as a true winger.

The first half seemed about possession- "we are MORE than a set piece team and we CAN score from open play. In my day, teams had to actually shoot to score, but I may be a bit jaded. The second half seemed the polar opposite. Okay, we ARE a direct play team. This didn’t work well either.

We were relieved by Ching coming in in the 60th, showing just how much respect Dom has for the Flyin’ Hawaiian- Kinnear seldom makes subs so early. We thought this sub was at least 15 minutes late. Clearly, we weren’t playing DC and the likes of rookie Perry Kitchen. Something needed to change- the real question was how long would Dom wait?

Ching’s presence predictably brought more possession in Rapid’s territory though we still lacked any sort of rhythm. We prayed to the stingy football Gods for an early (from Dom) entry of Koke for Watson, but had to wait until Rapids goal number 2. Koke looked composed but saw little of the ball against a packed in defense protecting an away win.

Was the last goal the product of bad defending, failed clearances, or bad luck? It was such a jumbled bungle, I’m going to have to watch replay after replay to make sense of it all.

At the end, the Dynamo went back to Mike Sorberesque possession ball- complete with thrilling backpasses. We had a few looks, but I remember yelling- “Play like you’re down a goal at home and it’s the 89th minute”.

Which we were and it was.

La dee da dee da.

Let’s hope TFC doesn’t play above its weight- they’re playing a formation completely unsuited to their ability and seem like bus boys subbing for the world renowned French Chef cuz he’s out sick. Clockwork Orange cuisine is far, far above their station.
 
On the other hand, this could present another trap as Toronto is desperate to show their fans they actually have cajones…

Gosh, does this mean Dom might actually alter the lineup?

Gasp!

Excellent post, DynaNole. I agree about Watson, he is much more of a natural CAM though he faded after the break and I wondered if he is a 90 minute man.

I also agree about Hall’s mistake- he is, in essence, a rookie keeper. He hasn’t been a starter since- college ball @ San Jose St? Was that 5 or 6 yrs ago?

I beg to differ about Clark- even after the flip flop. We were sitting on the east side, 2nd row above field level. He was on our side the 1st half, then after flip flopping returned to our side again. He adamantly refused to take his man on one on one. I don’t remember much, if any penetration. His passing selection was similar to your criticism of Palmer though there were few players coming to support. You make a valid point about Cruz who would have probably skied or shot wide.

I also disagree about team performance. The Rapids were an underperforming team without its two best attackers after the Cummings sub. Yet they seemed the most inventive and cohesive. How many shots did we have after all that possession?

Davis didn’t have a great game but still looked more dangerous than an invisible Clark (until the goal). Davis’s set pieces were poor and often did not clear the first defender. Watson became increasingly invisible as the game wore on.

Everytime Ching goes to ground, ALL of us wonder if he’s just too beat up to continue. He plays like Earl Campbell did and the body can just take so much.

As far as lineup changes, it’s all moot. Generally, you get the same thing every game and hope for the best (luck or performances). Switching Ashe to RB revolutionary! Like a guy who has made love to his wife in the missionary position for over 30 yrs. One day, he asks if she’d like to go on top.

WOW!