Houston Dynamo Player Ratings:
Tally Hall, MotM, (7) - Tally Hall recorded 8 saves and was tested all night by a very active offensive Montreal. Hall only conceded 2 goals despite 10 shots on target (vs Houston's 2) and made some good reaction saves. He earned Man of the Match for keeping the Dynamo in the game.
Kofi Sarkodie (5.5) - The Dynamo defense overall looked out of sync and everyone seemed just a few too many steps ahead or behind of each other - just look at the line on the first goal. Sarkodie was arguably the best defender for the Dynamo, who made some very good passes up the field and made some important stops. He will benefit from having Boniek back on Saturday.
Jermaine Taylor (5) - The two center back anchors looked uncomfortable together. I suppose not playing together for so long could do that. Taylor looked slower and more timid than his usual self. The good news is we can chalk this game up to the two learning how to play together again.
Bobby Boswell (5) - Boswell wore the captain's armband as Brad Davis was away with the US national team. Boz never looked comfortable and had a difficult time controlling the defensive line. Part of that is likely due to an unrelenting Montreal offense, but the first half the Dynamo defenders were flat footed. The second half was an improved, more alert effort on Boswell's part, but overall too many giveaways and too many shots were allowed for my liking.
Corey Ashe (4) - Ashe actually didn't play all that poorly, but gets minus points for his poor, poor giveaway that led to the second goal which sealed the game. He was active moving up the field, but the defense isn't walking away from allowing 21 attempts on goal with nearly half of those allowed to be on target.
Ricardo Clark (6.5) - Clark lined up in the center attacking midfield role, and helped push the ball up to the forwards with accurate passing. He often had to track back to cover for Moffat. He was also effective at making his own space and also drew a few good fouls.
Adam Moffat (4.5) - Moffat struggled to take Montreal off the ball in the midfield, and his passing was off. I keep saying it, but he really need Clark lined up next to him in order for the two to work best as a pair.
Warren Creavalle (6) - Creavalle got the start at right midfield for Oscar Boniek Garcia who was away with the Honduran national team. The pros to Creavalle's performance were his work on the offensive side of the ball, as he was able to run up the side very well and cross the ball in as well as shoot. The biggest con his defensive efforts. To be fair, RM is a work in progress for him.
Andrew Driver (6.5) - Driver filled in for Brad Davis at LM and did a pretty good job of it. However, there was something off about Driver's service tonight. I just say that because it was fairly average compared to how great it usually is. Still, Driver pushed the offense up the field, and found players in dangerous areas. One thing I also noticed about his game is his positioning. He is open a lot, and really can get free from defenders easily.
Giles Barnes (5) - Barnes took more shots than anyone for the Dynamo, but even though some of his efforts were close not one found the net and the shot that should have been at least close, his penalty kick effort, was anything but.
Will Bruin (6) - Will Bruin did his best to try to hold the ball up, but the Dynamo had trouble getting the ball to him. He did draw a penalty, which was a fairly soft penalty in my opinion, but he did it! He was very aggressive up front for large stretches when he did get the ball which is something we like from our Dancing Bear.
The Subs:
Omar Cummings (6) - Cummings came on for Adam Moffat just before the 70th minute, and looked to insert some spark into the Dynamo's many, many attempts on goal. He actually looked very good for his time in. His pace isn't 100% back, but he still has a nose for goal. I look forward to seeing him more and more.
Brian Ching (5.5) - Ching came on for Warren Creavalle in the 78th minute. As attack heavy we were, Ching didn't really fit in with the rest of the forwards, and didn't see much of the ball. Still his passing skills are very sharp.
Luiz Camargo (5) - Camargo came on just before stoppage time for Ricardo Clark, which was a bit of a head scratcher for me, but Camargo didn't look comfortable in the formation. Camargo looks to be more and more like a bust for the Dynamo.
Dominic Kinnear (6) - Dominic Kinnear said before the game that he loved getting his starting defenders back. Unfortunately his starting defenders came out flat footed to start the game, something that improved after half time. The personnel that he put out on the field were the right choices aside from possibly the late Camargo substitution, but one has to wonder why Barnes and not Driver took the penalty kick. Driver does all of the set pieces, how about that one? Kinnear himself is probably confused why his team could get off 18 attempts on goal and have only 2 of them end up on target. He will get his men ready for Saturday and take it out on a different Canadian club.