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MLS: 5 teams who fell short of expectations in 2019

By Matt Coles

CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 25: Andrew Gutman #96 of FC Cincinnati controls the ball during the game against the Columbus Crew SC at Nippert Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 25: Andrew Gutman #96 of FC Cincinnati controls the ball during the game against the Columbus Crew SC at Nippert Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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SANDY, UT – SEPTEMBER 29 : Tomas Martinez #10 of the Houston Dynamo is congratulated by teammates Alberth Elis #17 and Darwin Ceren #24 after scoring a goal against Real Salt Lake during their game at Rio Tinto Stadium September 29, 2019 in Sandy, UT.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SANDY, UT – SEPTEMBER 29 : Tomas Martinez #10 of the Houston Dynamo is congratulated by teammates Alberth Elis #17 and Darwin Ceren #24 after scoring a goal against Real Salt Lake during their game at Rio Tinto Stadium September 29, 2019 in Sandy, UT.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) /

Houston Dynamo

It looked like it could be a very good season for the Houston Dynamo after the first couple of months of the campaign. They went 7-2-2 through their opening 11 matches and were being touted as a potential Supporters’ Shield challenger.

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However, from there, the team snowballed. They won only five more games, dropping them out of playoff contention, eventually finishing10th in the West, eight points off the postseason places.

This was down to a lack of goals. They only managed 45 in their 34 league games, the second-least in the Western Conference. Only Vancouver scored fewer. The Dynamo also had to deal with the loss of several key players, including Chris Seitz, Philippe Senderos and Dylan Remick, but with a front four of Romell Quioto, Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas and Christian Ramirez, goals should not have been as hard to come by as they actually were in the 2019 term.

Houston have now failed to qualify for the playoffs in five of their last six seasons, with the U.S. Open Cup triumph in 2018 their only high point. Manotas top-scored last season with 25, but could only manage 15 this year. If Houston can get their offence firing on all cylinders, then they might be able to make the post-season again in 2020, but will they be able to?

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