Dynamo Player Ratings vs SKC

Houston Dynamo Player Ratings:

Tally Hall (6) - Hall really wasn't tested too much and only notched a single save in a game that saw the Dynamo out possess and outshoot their Eastern Conference rivals. The few times the defense did let an attacker slip through, Hall was quick to capture the ball and wouldn't be caught napping.

Kofi Sarkodie (6) - Sarkodie did well to push the ball into the attack and provide opportunities in for others by his cross. He had a shot as well, though on the play he probably should have crossed it in rather than send it to the stands.

Eric Brunner (5.5) - Brunner was back in action as usual starter Jermaine Taylor was out of town with the Jamaican national team. Brunner did well to force tough shots, but he was at his best with his physical play that drew a number of fouls for the Dynamo.

Bobby Boswell (6) - The Boz very nearly scored a header in this game off of a Brad Davis free kick, but it was sent just wide. Defensively, Boswell limited a weakened and less creative Sporting Kansas City to a few counter attacks.

Corey Ashe (6.5) - Ashe did very well to track back and get the ball to Ricardo Clark as well as Brad Davis. Ashe also did his best Moffat Rocket impression, which saw Nielsen make a fairly easy, though unexpected save.

Warren Creavalle (6.5) - Creavalle continues to prove that this is his position to lose. He was quick to put pressure in the center of the field and is quickly establishing a great central midfield relationship with Ricardo Clark (whom apparently is his roommate when they travel).

Ricardo Clark, MotM, (7.5) - Clark's presence in the midfield is instrumental to our ability to create opportunities and punish opponents looking to create any form of possession in the center of the field. He created two or three quality chances for Will Bruin that Bruin really should have made.

Andrew Driver (6.5) -Driver is now 90 minutes healthy and showed he could still burn players on the dribble. He however is becoming fairly predictable with his movements - he always cuts to his left. It's not that he's ineffective, he's just no Oscar Boniek Garcia, who he was filling in for while Boniek is with the Honduran national team.

Brad Davis (6.5) - Davis was very well covered on the right side and not given much room to be effective. Where Davis was effective was with his free kicks. This season has seen Davis's ability to send in balls diminish a bit from last season's performance but this night though the majority of his service was of very high quality. I will say though, I hate short corners, and I'm pretty sure on one free kick that was "saved" by Collin, Davis was actually going for his head.

Giles Barnes (6) - Barnes came out very active early providing darting runs in at goal, and his usual knack for good passes both long and short. As the game wore on, his runs became slower and he dropped into the midfield too often to become influential as a forward.

Will Bruin (6) - Bruin could have scored two or three goals, but was denied each time by SKC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen. Part of me blames Bruin for not making the best of his opportunities while the other part blames very good goalkeeping. In my head I took away points, added them back, and took them away again settling on a 6 for a solid performance overall that didn't see him score - which he really should have.

The Subs:

Cam Weaver (-) - Weaver entered the 89^th minute and really didn't see enough time to become a difference maker. He probably should have been in the game earlier with the kind of service Davis was providing.

Coach Dominic Kinnear (6) - This one stung a little bit, and while the Dynamo controlled the majority of the opportunities and possession, they still failed to best their Eastern Conference rival and they failed to even find the net. Credit the defense and midfield for controlling the game and limiting opportunities, but the offense left a lot to be desired which showed their need for Oscar Boniek Garcia to be the creative dribbler, passer, chance creator, speedy, influential player that he is. The Dynamo will have to do better next game when they host 1^st in the East New York.