MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Dynamo Defeat Real Salt Lake in Weather-Delayed Match

Published on May 15, 2016 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


The Houston Dynamo capped a six-point week with a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake Sunday afternoon at BBVA Compass Stadium in a match originally scheduled for Saturday night but postponed due to severe weather. MF Giles Barnes scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season as the Dynamo recorded their second-straight home shutout.

On the winning goal, Dynamo GK Joe Willis drove a long goal kick that bounced over the defense. Barnes broke in behind the Real Salt Lake back line, held off his defender, and used a low finish to the left of GK Jeff Attinella and inside the far post for the winning goal.

It was Willis' first assist in his professional career and the first assist from a Dynamo goalkeeper since April 2, 2011, when Tally Hall assisted on Cam Weaver's goal in a 1-1 draw at the New York Red Bulls.

It is Houston's first win against Real Salt Lake since September 6, 2012, with RSL having won five straight meetings between the clubs.

Next up, the Dynamo begin a three-game road trip in league play at the Chicago Fire at 4 p.m. CDT on Saturday, May 21 at Toyota Stadium. Houston will host Real Sociedad of Spain's Liga BBVA in the BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup on Tuesday, May 24.

DYNAMO TEAM NOTES

- The win was the 40th by the Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium in MLS regular-season competition.

- The win was the 90th all-time home victory in MLS regular season play.

- The win improved the Dynamo's record to 3-6-2 on the season (11 points) and 3-1-2 at home.

- The win gave the Dynamo back-to-back home wins for the first time since Sept. 23 and 26 of 2015 over Sporting Kansas City and Colorado, respectively.

- The win evened the season series between Houston and Salt Lake at one win apiece. The teams will play for a third and final time on Saturday, Sept. 17 in Salt Lake City.

- The win was Houston's 10th all-time victory over Real Salt Lake in regular-season play.

- The win was Houston's ninth over Real Salt Lake in Houston and the Dynamo's first home win over RSL since 2012.

- The win improved Houston's record in the month of May to 2-1-0 after the Dynamo posted an 0-3-1 mark in April.

- The win improved head coach Owen Coyle's record to 14-20-11 on the Dynamo sideline.

- The start of the match was delayed by 21 1/2 hours from its originally-scheduled 7:30 p.m. start on Saturday due to inclement weather in Houston on Saturday night.

- The Dynamo honored First Responders throughout the match, and after the final whistle, soccer teams from Houston Police and Houston Fire Departments squared off in the annual Guns & Hoses charity soccer match. The charity match was cut short due to impending severe weather in the 27th minute. 27th

- The first goal of the match did not come until the 66th minute when MF Giles Barnes slotted home a right-footed effort. It was the latest that the opening goal was scored in a Dynamo game this season.

- The Dynamo and Real Salt Lake were tied 0-0 at halftime. It was the fourth time this season that the Dynamo entered the break even with their opponent, and the first time they earned a victory. Houston is now 1-2-1 when tied at halftime this season.

DYNAMO PLAYER NOTES

- MF Giles Barnes started and made his 126th career appearance in all competitions, tying him with Andre Hainault for 13th on the club's all-time list.

- Barnes scored in the 66th minute to give Houston a 1-0 lead. It was Barnes' fourth goal of the season and second consecutive home match with a goal.

- The goal gave Barnes 31 career goals in MLS play, which is fourth on the club's all-time list.

- MF Ricardo Clark and MF Andrew Wenger continued to be the only Dynamo players to start every game this season. Clark played 90 minutes and Wenger went 67, giving them 951 and 856 minutes played on the season, respectively.

- MF Alex Lima received a yellow card in the 31st minute for dangerous play when he fouled Real Salt Lake MF John Stertzer on a loose ball. It was Alex's third caution of the season and his third in as many matches.

- MF Leonel Miranda entered the game in the 67th minute in place of MF Andrew Wenger.

- MF Boniek García replaced FW Erick Torres in the 77th minute.

- FW Will Bruin replaced MF Giles Barnes in the third minute of stoppage time (90+3).

OTHER SCORING CHANCES

- 6th minute: Dynamo D Agus ran onto a poor clearance by Real Salt Lake and fired a low cross into the box, which MF Ricardo Clark headed just wide of the left post from eight yards.

- 10th minute: Real Salt Lake MF Joao Plata nearly scored on an 'Olympico' free kick, bending it toward the net. Dynamo GK Joe Willis caught the ball and barely kept it from crossing the goal line.

- 16th minute: MF Andrew Wenger fired over the crossbar from 16 yards following a mishit by MF Giles Barnes. The play began with a cross from D Sheanon Williams.

- 40th minute: F Erick Torres headed a cross into the ground and the ball bounced just over the crossbar. MF Giles Barnes won a 50/50 ball and passed to D DaMarcus Beasley, who whipped the cross into Torres.

- 45+1 minute: Real Salt Lake MF Kyle Beckerman fired just over the crossbar from the top of the box after receiving a low cross from F Yura Movsisyan.

- 47th minute: MF Giles Barnes got behind the Salt Lake defense and forced a save from GK Jeff Attinella. F Erick Torres collected the rebound, but his left-footed shot from outside the box sailed over the bar.

- 52nd minute: MF Cristian Maidana played a cross into the box from the right side, but the cross was deflected and nearly slipped inside the right post.

- 52nd minute: D David Horst leapt to get on the end of a corner kick from MF Cristian Maidana, but his headed effort clanged off the crossbar.

- 54th minute: MF Ricardo Clark's header off a corner kick forced a save from Real Salt Lake GK Jeff Attinella. D David Horst nearly poked the ball in, just missing as he fell to the ground.

- 56th minute: D David Horst once again nearly scored on a header, turning a free kick from MF Cristian Maidana just wide of the left post.

- 65th minute: Real Salt Lake F Yura Movsisyan got behind the Dynamo defense, but GK Joe Willis made himself big in front of the goal and forced Movsisyan to miss his chance over the bar.

- 70th minute: MF Leonel Miranda was played in behind the defense, but his right-footed effort was blocked and trickled wide of the left post.

- 74th minute: MF Giles Barnes tried a left-footed shot from outside the box, forcing a clean save from Real Salt Lake GK Jeff Attinella.

- 85th minute: MF Ricardo Clark played a through ball to Leonel Miranda, who had a chance to shoot but lost his balance and couldn't get a shot off.

- 89th minute: A pinpont cross FW Yura Movsisyan connects with FW Olmes Garcia, but he steers is wide with an outstretched leg.

Houston Dynamo Head Coach Owen Coyle

(Initial thoughts on the fans that returned after the postponement) "After everything that happened last night with the weather, obviously you hope that everybody's safe. People have a lot of plans over the weekend, it can be regimented, especially with kids, so for the fans to turn up today and create the atmosphere that they did, it was important that we gave them a performance to be proud of so that they could go home happy and smiling. To do that, we'd have to play well and we did that. We were outstanding today. We dominated the whole game. They're very dangerous on the counterattack but I thought it was a whole performance. We've played well for 60, 65, 70 minutes in games, but today there was start to finish focus. What we said at halftime was that it was the final pass where we had to get better because we were in some terrific situations in the first half but never utilized that final pass. We did in the second half and we had the opportunity to score four or five goals, we had some very good chances.

Our performance today was full of character, full of quality and full of real desire. That was defined by the man standing next to me, the captain (MF Giles Barnes). I thought he was outstanding, as he was last week. We, as his group, didn't perform well this week. We felt it was an opportunity to earn nine points in the week and we didn't do it, we've only taken six. But if we keep performing like that, the points will come. We're always delighted when the captain performs well and sets an example for everybody else."

(On Erick Torres' performance) "The only thing that didn't happen for (MF) Erick (Torres) today was scoring a goal. I thought he worked hard and he had a wonderful header in the first half that just cleared the crossbar. The more he gets minutes, the more those goals will come for him. We were delighted with how it (the goal) transpired and I think you've seen the gradual improvement when he gets minutes. It was great from Erick and the only thing missing from the kid is seeing the goal. He had a wonderful couple of chances because he was in good positions. Him and Chaco Maidana worked ever so hard today and it resulted in Giles's goal.

We have that quality, (MF) Andrew Wenger, as well as (MF Leonel) Miranda and (MF) Boniek (García) when they came on, I thought they were outstanding. Obviously those boys are chomping at the bit to start games but the attitude they've shown coming off the bench, I love that attitude, that desire, that level of commitment. We had that in abundance today. As I said to the lads in the locker room, it's all-good and well to perform as well as we did today but it needs to be on a consistent basis. It needs to go on the road to Chicago and Vancouver and showing that level of performances. Because when we do that, we can win games. We've got good players and we're hardworking but we can't be out there giving 80 percent. We need everyone focused and being 100 percent and when we do that, we're a very good team. I was delighted with the application, the effort and the energy. It wasn't easy coming off of that game during the week. We all take full culpability. There was a lot of criticism and we stood up to that. We showed our mentality, we showed character. And that's got to be the platform for moving on. There was a lot of quality. It could have easily been four or five goals today. We are delighted with how everyone went about

(on the dominate play of MF Alex Lima, MF Christian Maidana and MF Ricardo Clark) "Alex Lima and (MF) Ricardo Clark, the two of them today I thought were outstanding today in the engine room. And that's what we need every (day). To be fair to those two, I think they've played at a very high level with consistency. And I've said to the group, that's what we need. Different players bring different traits and different skills and match us at the level we play those good teams in the league. In terms of Alex Lima, what he brings to the team, and Ricardo Clark, I think their energy and quality of play is outstanding, both with the ball and against the ball. The amount of times that Lima and Clark get back to make important tackles, and then all of a sudden we can play now quicker into the attack."

(on being able to hold on to a one-goal lead after twice conceding late at home earlier this season) "I think that was everything today. We're sitting here with 11 points, we know we should easily have 16, 17, 18 points. We know we have good players. We know they can work hard. Every time we always want to improve. We certainly know how to get there, in terms of what we need from our level of improvement for this franchise to be where we want to be. That takes time. It takes a lot of things, but what it does take at the moment is that group working ever so hard and understanding how to see a game through. I still wasn't happy. I think we gave them an opportunity from a cross that could have been avoidable. So of course we won the game, but there are still one or two points we need to work on. It's great to get a shutout, but we want to make sure and get a shutout without giving up goal-scoring chances. That cross was dangerous there at the end, and that's important, when you get your second chance hit on goal, then take that chance. Be clinical, be ruthless, and stand up at the other end. We did that for the most part today. We have those areas that we have to continue working on, and that's what we'll look to do. We know that when we bring it like that, we can win games. We can stand toe-to-toe with the best. Moving forward we know the areas and how we want to bring it and we can keep improving. And that's important.

Houston Dynamo MF Giles Barnes

(Initial thoughts on having the support from the crowd today) "To the guys that came out, it was fantastic, thanks for coming out again. I know a lot of you guys probably had plans but you've come out and supported us again and it means a lot and it felt good that we could get the three points for you guys again today. As the gaffer (HC Owen Coyle) said, I hope everyone was safe after yesterday. It was great to see you guys out here today."

(On the goal...) To be honest with you, Cubo (MF Erick Torres) and Chaco (MF Cristian Maidana) both made challenges. I thought they both played well today, as the team did. I thought it was a great team performance. Everyone worked their socks off. Everyone dug in and that's exactly what we have to do every single week. So as the ball's gotten off, I just managed to get on the other end of the flick on and slide it into the net."

(on what was different today after going up a goal from two weeks ago in a 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake) "Obviously with the disappointment here midweek, it can't happen again. We've got to stop saying we're unlucky and work for 95+ minutes. Keep that concentration. Out there everyone gave 110%. You can see the boys at the end of the game dying on the floor, and that's exactly what we've got to do. This organization is known for working hard and success, and that's what we're trying to bring here. We owe it to our coach to make performances like (that), for trusting us every week and throwing it out there. As I said, the boys were incredible today and I just think it was a great team performance."

Houston Dynamo D David Horst

(On how the result will help impacted the team) "It gives us confidence going forward which I think is something we've been lacking at the end of games, between the game against Kansas City last week and the game tonight, I think it's giving us confidence going forward and we're moving in the right direction, getting points and finishing out games right now.

(On playing smarter and holding the lead) "I think we're learning how to win, and winning is not easy, especially when we're dealing with the game getting canceled last night and coming in today I think the guys did a great job of refocusing and getting ready for today and it really showed with the energy we brought to the game today."

(On the difference in energy between the first and second half) "We knew it was humid out there, that it was hot, we know how to deal with it and how to play through that, I think Salt Lake got a little heavy legged at the end but you know our guys kept going, they fought through the elements and they did a great job."

(On how to repeat these kinds of performances) "As a team I think we need to keep our focus for the full 90 minutes between the first and last whistle, we need to be offensive as a team and defensive as a team and I think that's how we're going to get results."

Houston Dynamo FW Erick Torres (Translated from Spanish)

(overall thoughts on the match) "I think it went well. I'm happy [with the result]. I think we did a good job. We got a positive result, which is very important to reaffirm our hard work at home, to do things right at home and get the three points. I think we're all happy that we got a positive result because the team demonstrated character and personality. At the end of the day, that's what's most important - to be consistent in playing and winning games. Now we have to continue to work hard because we have another important game coming up [May 21 at Chicago]."

(regarding the overall shots by the Dynamo compared to Real Salt Lake) "Yes, I think that we played very well. If we look at the final stats, I think we dominated them. That's good, but the most important thing is that we got the positive result. But yes, I think the stats are important, as well. In general, we need to analyze [the match], go over the details. We need to go over what we did right and what we need to work on. We still have plenty of games ahead."

(regarding how he thinks his teammates played - there seemed to be a lot of good playing going on in the midfield) "I felt good because I always work really well with [Dynamo MF Cristián "Chaco" Maidana]. I also play really well with [Dynamo MFs Giles Barnes and Andrew Wenger]. I felt very good up there. I have good communication with Maidana. He's the type of player who puts a lot of passes up front. Just the same, I have to keep talking to Giles and Andrew, as well as with the people who get subbed on [MFs Leonel Miranda and Boniek García]. It's important to familiarize ourselves with one another and do things correctly. That's how we get the result."

(regarding the heat) "Yes, it's incredible. The truth is, we know Houston is a very humid place, and now it's the time of the year when it gets really hot and humid. It makes the game a lot more complicated. It's a mental job, as well. You have to be strong. But despite that, I think we still did very well. We had the ball a lot. We tired them a lot, we made them run a lot. That helped us get the positive result and the win."

Houston Dynamo GK Joe Willis

(His overall thoughts on the game) "It was a hard-fought win. Those were three points that we really needed. I think going into it, we knew that we were going to have to fight for it with everything that's been going on. Between last night and today, the weather, we knew it was going to be a fight and I think we were ready for it."

(regarding how this win impacts the team) "It's huge. We obviously dug ourselves into a little bit of a hole at the beginning of the year, but we're taking it one game at a time now. It started today with three points and hopefully we can continue that going forward."

(regarding the assist he was credited with on Barnes's game-winning goal...first in his career?) "I don't know. Probably. I haven't really looked at my assist stats very much, but it's probably up there."

(regarding lack of shots on goal against and how the defense managed the game) "Oh, it was incredible. The way they were organized and the way they tracked runners, it was great. A lot of defending is standing up and being a man and saying 'you're not getting by me' and I think we've got guys who are really willing to do that."

(regarding Joao Plata's corner kick which nearly crossed the line) "It was probably pretty close. There wasn't really anyone in my area, so I like to use a little more space to give myself a head start in case I need to come out. But I think he saw me cheating a little and tried to whip it in, but I was able to get back and keep it out."

(regarding the urgency in winning road games, as well) "Every game is important, from the start of the season to the end, especially with the position that we're in. We need to pick up points whenever we can. Whether it's home, road, whatever. We need to go in with the same mentality. Leaving with zero points is not an option."

(regarding game management...previous games have had more than one goal, not today) "I think we're learning from our mistakes. Like I said, in the past we've had trouble with that and today I think we were very professional and I think it's something we can build on going forward, and it's definitely giving us some confidence."

Real Salt Lake head coach Jeff Cassar

(On the performance following the cancelation) "I think the whole experience we've gone through wasn't easy for the players, it's an excuse, it's not why we didn't have a good game, we just weren't good enough in any of the areas today, when we spoke at half time we said the game would probably come down to just one play, and to be fair that's a goal kick. It comes all the way through, it bounces and puts him in on goal, it shouldn't ever happen, it's not good."

(On how the game changed after halftime) "I do think we fatigued, I actually do think our back line defended pretty well, and that Kyle (Beckerman) and John (Stertzer) and Luke (Mulholland) did a pretty good job in there, I don't think our front four defended well enough and I don't think we played well enough going forward not to defend."

(On playing Jeff Attinella) "I thought he did a very good job, especially dealing with set plays. Our marking on set pieces wasn't good enough tonight but he did a good job commanding his box."

Real Salt Lake GK Jeff Attinella

(on being out on the field again) "It was fine. Obviously you want to play games. Jeff told me a few weeks ago that I was going to get this one. Obviously you want to win, but it felt good to be back out there. At the end of the day if you don't win or get a result it really doesn't matter."

(on the goal) "It was kind of a weird play. I just saw Barnes kind of poke through late. Once he was there he was in. Just kind of a long ball that got the better of us, but it's something we need to work on."

(on the five game road stretch) "We got to get results on the road. It's going to be a long month and got to find a way. We've done it before in the past - get back to that formula and we'll be alright."

Real Salt Lake MF Kyle Beckerman

(on the second half) "I think anytime playing down here with the humidity, and actually in any game, you get fatigued. It was really just about a game that you had to finish your chances. We had one, we didn't finish, and on that opposite play they did finish."

(on the postponed game) "Of course it was tough circumstances. We all got ready to play yesterday, and then to have to try and get to bed, and then get up early. But it was there for us to get a result and we just didn't take it."

(on chances in the first half compared to the second half) "I think we got off to not our best start in the second half. But we had two chances to change the game with a goal and we just didn't take it.

(on Jeff Attinella) "Jeff did great, which we would expect. No surprises there."

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