Houston Dynamo Vs Atlanta United: Winning tactics; worry of depth

Houston Dynamo dismantled the much-fancied Atlanta United thanks to four first-half goals. Here, I break down the tactical undertones of the goals and question the role of depth.

This season as last, Houston Dynamo came in as under-the-radar sleepers. Not many picked them as much more than a decent also-ran. Last season, the team finished fourth in the West and a Cup run was seen as slightly surprising, if not just MLS parity in action late in a long season. This season, expectations were just as reserved heading into the opener. Atlanta United was the pick of many of those same analysts to challenge for trophies. The Dynamo just laid down a marker.

Coach Wilmer Cabrera had the right plan. His unique 4-2-3-1, which plays out like a 4-3-3 with wide wingers and a midfield triangle, fits the players and squad depth well. The players had the purpose and initiative. BBVA is becoming a fortress following last year’s 12-1-4 home record. They have started this campaign in the very same manner.

For the second season, Tata Martino’s Atlanta United squad consists of high priced attacking talent and patchwork defensive foundations. Their biggest purchase, Ezequiel Barco, is on the injury list, and they had they must improve on the unfortunate record of having scored 26 fewer goals in road games last year. With a vulnerable foundation and sparse depth, those troubles may continue, especially as Darlington Nagbe learns Martino’s structure and before the eventual return of Barco to the squad.

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Atlanta started Jeff Larentowicz at CB with noreal dedicated defensive midfielder. Martino did not have many options. This was obviously trouble. Chris McCann was ineffective, Darlington Nagbe floated on the right and Julian Gressel was stuck in the space just above where he was needed.

Houston, meanwhile, had two shielding midfielders dedicated to controlling the channels between the center-backs and full backs while maintaining dedicated supporting triangles. Poor passes plagued the Dynamo all game. It was Atlanta that had more passes and possession, but they lacked precise end product. With the first-day adrenaline and tactical set-up, Houston blitzed the areas of contention and capitalized on their options once the ball was won.

Andrew Wagner was the finisher of Albert Elis’s hustle and a ball won on the right channel of the midfield circle. Ball won. Ball played. Ball passed. Goal celebration at the flag, only Orange welcome. Party starts five minutes in.

Opening Day’s only downer for Houston was Juan David Cabezas being injured 15 minutes in. The Dynamo did not miss a beat though, as Philippe Senderos headed in a Boniek Garcia cross from an uncontested short corner working the same intermediate channel 25 yards out. 23 minutes into the season, 2-0 Dynamo.

Leandro Gonzalez-Pires went down in the 39th minute injured, making Atlanta United’s depth problems even more precocious. Micheal Parkhurst did little to stem the tide as a substitute.

Mauro Manatos jumped on his first chance minutes later. Well worked interplay at the corner of the 18-yard box, and again the intermediate channels, led to an open goal after forcing Brad Guzan into a reaction save.

Darwin Ceran finished off the game in the first-half extra time when Guzan inexplicably pushed a cross seemingly headed out of bounds back to the middle of the box. It was the nail in the Atlanta coffin, symbolising the same shortcomings that crippled them last season: defensive errors.

Next: New York Red Bulls: 5 things we learned from CCL win

The second half was all about the clean sheet, avoiding injuries, and letting the fans practice the best songs of victory. After Week 1, Houston Dynamo are on top with reason to dream anything is possible. Tata Martino and Atlanta United, though, are leaving a nightmare facing a sobering reality of limitations.

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