All that firepower…
Houston Dynamo have a lot of attacking weapons: Alberth Elis is the most dangerous winger in Major League Soccer that you aren’t afraid of, and Mauro Manotas has built on a strong 2018 with a spectacular 2019 that should see him on far more ‘top strikers in MLS’ lists than he’s currently on.
Tomas Martinez and Romell Quioto can both create — and, in the latter’s case — finish with ease, and the Union will be tested by an attack that gave them trouble in last year’s US Open Cup final.
Behind that front line though… things are quite different. Houston has never build a solid back six to support a dangerous attack, and players like Darwin Ceren and Oscar Boniek Garcia are not suited to protect a back line that looks mightily afraid of giving up space in behind. To prevent their defense from being exposed, then, Houston relies on the fear their attack drives into the hearts of opponents.
That fear is real — Elis is as scary as a winger gets in MLS. But to prevent the Dynamo from becoming a truly fearsome opponent, the Union must be aggressive and attack a back four that, Demarcus Beasley aside, is neither good with the ball nor comfortable playing high up the pitch.
One thing Philly doesn’t need to worry about? Set pieces. Houston only scored rarely off dead balls, but that doesn’t mean the Union can ignore this phase of the game. After DC United’s goal last weekend, Philly still needs to produce dominance on dead balls to round out their games.
A final note on Houston — this is a club that holds the 2019 US Open Cup title, one that the Union came extremely close to capturing. When Philly thinks enemies, the Dynamo are top of the list until Jim Curtin and his men can exact revenge for last season’s cup final.
The Union and Dynamo go head to head on Sunday, August 11 at 6:00 p.m. ET at Talen Energy Stadium on PHL17.
