Dynamo coach Tab Ramos stopped looking at the standings without winning six matches. He was focused on winning just one.
The win came on Wednesday at the BBVA Stadium in the face of potential difficulties. Dynamo beat FC Dallas 2-0.
“It was about effort, and it was about getting together and fighting as a team,” Ramos said. “I really couldn’t lead the team today. The effort was amazing in a moment where we really needed a win. ”
Dynamo Minus shone with its top attacker, goalkeeper Marco Maric.
To be sure, forward Mauro Manotus started the game – although Dynamo played without Memo Rodriguez (right thigh injury), Manor Figueroa and Matthias Vera (yellow card combined).
But Manotz was shown a red card for sliding into Andres Resort two minutes into the first half’s stoppage time.
“He just tried to make a good effort, and unfortunately, he made a bad mistake,” Ramos said. “It forced us to go 4-4-1, leaving Darwin (Quintero) at the top, and Darwin showed he could put this team on their toes.”
Manotse’s absence jeopardized Houston’s opening 1-0 lead, which came in the 20th minute.
Forward Ariel Leicester swiped the ball to a Dallas player and leaned into the field. He slammed into Quintero, who slipped his shot from a defender’s leg and threw the wide-spread goalkeeper into the corner of the net.
Marycock faced 12 shots in the first half, adding another full match from Houston. He made eight saves on 28 shots.
“Marco had a great game,” Ramos said. “Obviously he made a bunch of big savings, and I think he led the defense really well. I think he communicated well, and I think he’s trying to improve his experience in the league, so that’s a good thing. ”
The attack continued until the second half. But with one man down, Ramos kept pushing. He added attackers Christian Ramirez and Nico Hansen in the 70th minute.
The gamble paid off in the 81st minute when FC Dallas defender Brian Reynolds was fined for dealing with Hansen on the field in a counter-attack. Two minutes later, midfielder Darwin Seren reduced the penalty to seal Houston’s victory.
The Ramos victory in the Texas Derby is the first since Ram Stun (4-5-7, 19 points) and lost to Dallas (5-4-6, 21 points) earlier this year.
Unsurprisingly, Houston won on Wednesday despite a huge loss of more than 100 minutes (71.6-28.4) and shots (28-11). Six yellow cards were issued on top of the first half penalty of Manotus.
“We won here. We need to get rid of it quickly and focus on Miami on Saturday, ”Ramos said. “Once we get the points on Saturday, we can see the rest of the standings.”
