Wade Barrett pushes Houston Dynamo to "hold each other accountable" as the team nabs first Barrett victory

For once during the 2016 MLS season, the Houston Dynamo felt the joys of being on the winning end of last second goal.

It happened in the 94th minute, when Christian "Chaco" Maidana sent a free kick curling to far post, beating Union goalkeeper Andre Blake in front of 18,457 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The win was also interim head coach Wad Barrett's first official MLS win, and capped off a big week for the Orange who were also triumphed in their US Open Cup win earlier in the week against Sporting KC.

Here are three takeaways from Dynamo's win against the leaders of the Eastern Conference.

Chaco gets revenge against his old team

Maidana played his first four seasons in Philadelphia, before being traded to the Dynamo during the last winter transfer window. Since the trade, he's been salivating a the chance for a little payback to his former club.

"I've waited for this match since I was traded over from [Philadelphia], and everything started out great since I entered the match," Maidana said after the match. "Most of all, I'm happy for the victory."

The Argentine international was a second half sub for the Dynamo, and immediately set the tone on the offensive end – earning big praise from his head coach.

"I know Chaco had the goal tonight, but the effort and energy that he brought when he came on the field to me was the biggest thing," Barrett said. "The goal is probably what counts the most, but the energy, the possession, looking to get on the ball, looking to make those passes, that was the difference. I thought we looked like the team that would get a goal towards the end, and Chaco was a huge part of that."

Dynamo back line coming together

Aside from the second half let down in Portland last week, the Dynamo's defense has turned things around since Barrett took over.

Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric earned his second consecutive home shutout, but was really only bothered a handful of times.

"I thought defensively we were very organized today; we worked extremely hard," Deric told Dynamo Theory. "The success we had offensively is a direct correlation to what we were doing defensively. We keep working hard on defense and those offensive opportunities will come."

The Orange had twice as many total shots on the night compared to the Union, and only allowed two shots on goal.

Barrett getting more from multiple leaders on the team.

Since taking over the Dynamo, Barrett made the switch on Captain's armband from Giles Barnes to DaMarcus Beasley. But Barrett doesn't want people to focus too much on who's the armband.

"I've pulled together a group of the players and let them know that every single person I'm asking to step up and be a leader on the team. I'm asking those guys to help raise the standard in training every day, in games of course, in every single thing we do.

"If things are a little bit slack in training or passing exercises are off, I don't want to be the one getting on them all the time. I want them to recognize that – which they do – and hold each other to a higher standard."

He's gotten a core group of leaders to help guide the team. It's a luxury Barrett had when he was wearing the captain's armband during the early years of Dynamo. When he had players like Brian Ching and Eddie Robinson helping push everyone every day. That led to a breeding of future leaders like Brad Davis and Stuart Holden.

"We had a group that held each other accountable, that held everybody on the team to a higher standard, and that's what I'm trying to get from this group right now," Barrett said. "We have the players – we really do – that have those qualities that I'm looking for. I don't want to say they've been dormant, but I'm asking them to do more. To take a bigger responsibility for what happens. So far, I've been really impressed with their response."

The Dynamo are on the road next weekend to face Orlando City SC on Friday, July 8.