CCL Recap: Dynamo fall to Arabe Unido 1-0

The Dynamo went into Panama against Arabe Unido looking for a draw or win in order to advance to the next stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. The Dynamo relied on a largely reserve squad due to the importance of the MLS league match against DC United which could see them into the playoffs. A 61^st minute fluke of a goal punished the Dynamo early into the first half became the game winner in an ugly affair by Hollywood standards which once again saw the stretcher crew the star of the show.

The Dynamo controlled much of the first half, which saw our away squad enjoy long stretches of the possession - as well as the better of the chances on goal against Arabe Unido. However, those chances were squandered as Dynamo forwards, notably Omar Cummings who had several good looks on goal, failed to convert over the first half. The Dynamo defense also was privy to their own miscues which saw more than a few chances get saved by Tyler Deric. The most notable save came late by Kofi Sarkodie who made a close range save to keep the Dynamo level at zero at the half.

The first half of game saw the Dynamo control and move the ball well, but failed to make any creative pass that led to a real threat on goal outside of Cummings's near misses. They also allowed Arabe Unido to counter attack too frequently, which saw the defense make saves that made up for poor clearances and giveaways.

The second half started much as the first did with the Dynamo out passing and controlling the game more, though early the same struggles up front and in the defense continued. Arabe Unido was able to score in bizarre fashion in the 61^st minute, when Jose Gonzalez made the best of poor Dynamo clearing and took a shot which Tyler Deric saved, only to knock right into the path of Gonzalez, who headed it in. The highly unusual goal cannot be faulted to Deric, who made a brilliant first save (and nearly saved the second effort), but rather with the poor giveaway by the defense.

As the game wore on the Dynamo, brought on Will Bruin for the largely ineffective Omar Cummings and Giles Barnes for Kofi Sarkodie, which still led to missed opportunities. The Dynamo then brought on Warren Creavalle for Jason Johnson, who struggled to really be a force on the right side of the midfield. The Dynamo did gain some momentum their way getting some calls, however this was upstaged by the stretcher antics which saw several Arabe Unido players going down lightly and then up again as soon as the medical staff arrived.  This was something that continued all the way until the final minutes in increasing frequency.

In the end the Dynamo needed at least a draw in a harsh place to play, and were unable to come away with a result. Though the Dynamo appeared to be the more dominating and controlling team, as they were against New York last weekend, they failed to convert their chances and allowed a fluky goal. The difference between the NYRB and Arabe Unido were the time wasting tactics. Seeing players go down with little to no contact in an effort to waste time simply does not respect the game the way it should be played. The Dynamo head to Washington DC to play DC United next in a must win game to close the season.