Team Focus: Postseason specialists Houston at it again

There’s not much you can count on in Major League Soccer. Its erratic nature makes it one of the most difficult leagues to predict in world football. However, there is one thing that bucks the trend: the Houston Dynamo making a postseason charge.

The Dynamo have made an appearance in four of the last seven MLS Cup finals, losing the league finale to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the past two seasons. But if Houston are giants of the playoffs they are languid underachievers of the regular season. Every year Houston makes the playoffs and no more (this season they finished two points within the top five in the East) only to defy their league position in the postseason.

Dominic Kinnear has built a reputation as one of MLS’ most accomplished and experienced head coaches, but it is his ability to tune his side’s performance levels towards the end of the season, when it matters most, that is most impressive.

The Dynamo lived up to their reputation by knocking out the Supporters’ Shield champions the New York Red Bulls by winning 2-1 in extra-time, having recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 in the home leg. If there was any doubt that Houston had lost their playoff magic it was dispelled on Wednesday night.

So just how good are the Dynamo? And why do they come to life in the playoffs?

It would appear that Houston’s intensity increases when the MLS season turns to knockout rounds. A feature of Houston’s play against New York was pressuring the opposition high up the field when chasing the ball. In fact, it produced their first goal of the night, pouncing on a forced error by Ibrahim Sekagya.

Kinnear has been forced to play a narrow strategy for much of the season, with Oscar Boniek Garcia and Andrew Driver struggling to overcome persistent injuries.

However with Garcia, in particular, in the team Houston takes on an additional dimension, stretching the width of the pitch on the right side. The Honduran averages 1.2 dribbles per game and makes an average of three key passes per game, giving Houston a creative hub on the right side of midfield.

Houston still have gaping weaknesses. Against the Red Bulls their vulnerability to the direct attack in the final third was in evidence on several occasions throughout the game.

When faced with a physical frontline the Dynamo struggle to assert themselves at the back. Even against New York Eric Brunner and Bobby Boswell failed to cope with the strength of Thierry Henry, a player more associated with guile and poise than brute power. For the most part, however, Brunner was effective at the back, making 11 clearances (more than any other player on the field) and also contributing three interceptions.

The Dynamo’s stubborn spirit is embodied in Will Bruin, the team’s top scorer with 10 goals this season. Bruin averages 3.2 shots on goal per game, making him one of the league’s most active forward players (ranked fifth in the corresponding statistics column). His overall contribution to the team is impressive, making seven assists to compliment his goal tally.

However, it was Bruin’s teammate Brad Davis that took the game against New York by the scruff of the neck on Wednesday. The USA international netted the Dynamo’s first goal of the night, but his influence was more profound than that, making 64 passes (Houston’s second highest pass tally) at a pass success rate of 86%.

The partnership between Bruin and Giles Barnes could be central to the Dynamo’s chances of progressing to a third straight MLS Cup final, with the latter averaging 21.6 passes per game, the highest among Houston’s forward roster, while also contributing nine goals and two assists.

Against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday the Dynamo will have to cope with the dynamic front three of Graham Zusi, C.J Sapong and Dominic Dwyer, and might have to rely on goalkeeper Tally Hall, just as they did for much of the win over New York.

One issue for Houston as they prepare to face Peter Vermes’ team in the Eastern Conference final is match fitness. Kinnear’s men were clearly dead on their feet in the closing stages of the win over the Red Bulls, but the Dynamo have made a name for themselves in overcoming adversity.