Recap: Houston Dynamo forwards ice cold in 0-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes

The Houston Dynamo were hoping to improve their standing on the Western Conference table against the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday evening following their 0-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids at home last weekend. With Alex Lima suspended due to yellow card accumulation the Dynamo’s newest designated player Tomas Martinez was given his first start in Orange as the Dynamo hoped to gain some momentum on the road.

Tomas Martinez showed some of his attacking potential as he dribbled through the San Jose defense within the first few minutes and was able to set up Romell Quioto for a long range shot, but it was easily saved by the Quakes keeper Andrew Tarbell.

Through the first 15 minutes, both sides were comfortable getting into the other’s half of the field. The Dynamo were able to build up play more effectively than they had against Colorado, but still struggled to create quality chances. The Earthquakes were successful at finding dangerous moments on the counter with many of the Dynamo’s attacking players still higher up the pitch.

The Dynamo were given a chance in the 19^th minute as Tomas Martinez was brought down just on the outside of the box. Romell Quioto took the shot which was curled over the top of the net out for a San Jose goal kick.

In the 23^rd minute Alberth Elis broke two tackles as he made a run down the line into the Earthquakes’ box. He was looking to get Martinez the ball, but it got stuck under his foot as he was laying it off and San Jose was able to regain possession.

Shea Salinas and the Earthquakes were unfortunate to not get on the board first at Avaya Stadium with Salinas taking advantage of poor defending by Alberth Elis as he easily got in front of him and played a ball across the mouth of goal. The Dynamo were able to frantically get the ball to safety, but it was a nervous moment in the back for Houston.

San Jose would eventually strike first on the score board. Kofi Sarkodie found space down the side of the field and whipped in a well placed ball to Danny Hoesen who was able to take a touch to steady the ball, turn, and put the ball passed Tyler Deric in the 33^rd minute. Sarkodie would be booked a few minutes later for taking down Cubo Torres in a dangerous area.

The Dynamo would go into the locker room down a goal to San Jose. Overall, it wasn’t poor by Houston, but the offensive players all seemed disconnected from each other with quality opportunities to test Andrew Tarbell being hard to come by.

Houston came out strong opening the 2^nd half as they were able to get a free kick and corner kick within the first three minutes, but there still was no goal in sight for the visitors.

Things would go back and forth after the opening minutes with both sides seeing quality opportunities. After a yellow card was shown to Martinez for a challenge, the Earthquakes sent in a threatening ball to Chris Wondolowski who headed the ball just wide of the goal. The Dynamo would come close to equalizing soon after as they got the ball in the box with several players coming close to turning and opening themselves up for a shot, but it would fall to Juan David Cabezas who sent the ball over the top of the goal.

Alberth Elis came very close as well for Houston in the 62^nd minute. Tomas Martinez sent a long through ball to Cubo Torres on the counter attack. Cubo got to the ball and sent it across to Elis who got open and sent a shot across the goal just wide. Not long after Cubo would get on the end of a cross and head the ball off the side post. A cross would come back to Cubo who headed it to Elis, but his headed effort was right to Andrew Tarbell. This combination was Houston at its best this evening.

Wilmer Cabrera shook things up by bringing on Vicente Sanchez for Tomas Martinez. Sanchez helped immediately on a counter attack as he linked the ball to Cubo inside the 18 yard box who quickly slid the ball out to Quioto, but Quioto’s shot went off the side netting. The Earthquakes were close to doubling their lead in the 76^th minute. Following a corner kick, Wondolowski side volleyed the ball just wide of the goal.

The Earthquakes nearly put any hope of an equalizer for the Dynamo out of reach with Marco Ureña going 1v1 with Tyler Deric who made a brilliant save to keep the deficit at 1 for Houston.

After four minutes of stoppage time, the fulltime whistle blew and the Dynamo were defeated 0-1 on the road. This is the first time this season the Dynamo have been shut out in back-to-back games which should be some cause for concern. Overall, the Dynamo did not play poorly, but for much of the game the forwards and midfielders were not on the same page and could not buy a goal tonight.

Goals:

33^’ Danny Hoesen (San Jose)

Disciplinary:

36’ Yellow to Kofi Sarkodie (San Jose)

53’ Yellow to Tomas Martinez (Houston)

81’ Yellow to Alberth Elis (Houston)

86’ Yellow to Andres Imperiale (San Jose)

91’ Yellow to A. J. DeLaGarza (Houston)

Lineups:

Houston Dynamo: Tyler Deric; DaMarcus Beasley, Leonardo, Adolfo Machado, A. J. DeLaGarza; Tomas Martinez (70’ Vicente Sanchez), Juan David Cabezas, Oscar Boniek Garcia; Romell Quioto (77’ Mauro Manotas), Cubo Torres, Alberth Elis

San Jose Earthquakes: Andrew Tarbell; Shea Salinas, Andres Imperiale, Francois Affolter, Kofi Sarkodie; Valeri Qazaishvilla (65’ Tommy Thompson), Florian Jungwirth, Jackson Yueill, Danny Hoesen; Marco Ureña (86’ Quincy Amarikwa), Chris Wondolowski

The Dynamo will be back in action next Saturday September 23^rd at 2:00 PM CT against New York City FC in New York.