Pre/PBP/Post: CCL Quarterfinals, Santos Laguna v Houston Dynamo, Wednesday, March 13

I'll settle for a draw

 

It's hard to imagine Santos not scoring at home. I think we will need a goal to give ourselves a shot at a 2-2 aggregate draw, with an away goal tiebreaker for us.

We won't survive parking the bus like we did at SKC in the playoffs, although that strategy was somewhat dictated by score and the fact that we were playing our third game in 8 days. We'll have fresher legs for this game.

The key is avoiding the onslaught that caves the roof in early, like we had at Pachuca in 2007 where we frittered a 2 goal lead in like 20 minutes. We came back to force extra time but had nothing in the tank (of course, decent reffing in that game would have helped).

 

According to the stats on the MLS MatchDay app, possession was 52% Santos to 48% Dynamo last night. It won't be that close in Torreon, but we have to keep some extended possession to relieve pressure on our defenders.

 

This is in itself impressive. Whether a Mexican clubs wins or loses they still win possession 60-40.

 

Slight loss in possession + more corners + more shots on goal and you wonder why Santos thought they outplayed Houston last night.

 

another week of practice/training/meshing does us wonders, a match against a team crawling out of relegation might do them harm.

i think a 2-2 aggregate isn't impossible.

 

I hate comparisons to other teams who have sucked FMF teams ***** previously. From what I recall we never have bowed out horribly to other FMF teams, we've held our own quite nicely and we've never been blown-out by an FMF teams or actually not many MLS teams for that matter. (someone correct me if i'm wrong) It bothers the sh** out of me all the crap were getting because Santos has blown out OTHER MLS teams. I hope we beat them 2-0 so they can cry and all of the MLS reporters as well. F*** tied aggregate away goals I just want to beat them at their house.

**Disclaimer** I will also be just as happy if we do beat them by tied aggregate but away goal victory.

 

Do you consider 0-3 a blowout? We've had plenty of those against Mexican teams.

Don't worry about it. Assuming Kinnear plays his best eleven in Santos, we're going to learn a lot about our team and where we stand compared to strong Mexican teams. If our best guys get blown out, then it's either a fluke or it means there is something the Mexican teams have that we just don't. In the past, we've fielded weak teams that have lost bravely or poorly but it's rare for us to really throw our best guys into a competition like this. I'll say what I said before the MLS Cup last year. Let's field our best eleven and have them field their best eleven and let the chips fall where they may.

 

I do. What games were these?

 

There was a 3-0 against Saprissa*, a 3-1 against Pumas, a 3-0 against Atlante, and a 4-0 against Atlante in SuperLiga.

*not a Mexican team.

 

2-5 vs Pachuca with a strong team (but oh man what a night!) 4/5/07
1-3 v. Pumas at Robertson Stadium with a weak team 10/22/08 - I remembered it incorrectly as 0-3
0-3 v. Atlante in Cancun with a weak team 3/3/09

We have a pretty good record historically against Mexican teams.
http://www.houstondynamo.com/blog/post/2013/03/07/dynamo-strong-record-against-mexican-foes

 

The good thing is this is early in the season, our schedule isn't congested, at least not yet, and Dom pretty much started our best 11 our last game against santos. I think he starts our best 11 or close to it. I was actually surprised to see 10 of the same 11 start Tuesday from Saturday.

 

Nevermind. Stupid Tapatalk.

 

2/24/09 vs. Atlante T 1-1 Robertson Stadium CONCACAF Champions League

This was my first Dynamo game attended ever that's probably why I don't remember the blowouts but I also was not there to see the Dynamo win Championships which suck. I attended that whole first year on and off and then season tickets in 10'.

Dynamo did horrible marketing back then because the only reason I found out they were a pro-team was because I won tickets to the aforementioned game. That and I wasn't into Social media for my late teen years early 20's.

 

Right there with you buddy! It drives me nuts that they compare us to the likes of Seattle and TFC...c'mon TFC... I'd like to think that people understand that we should never be counted out of a playoff/knockout tournament. We have proven to be a menacing side in a two legged home and away series time and time again.

We're not Seattle and we sure as hell aren't TFC. We're a fast, physical, united and a humble team with a great deal of experience and are more than capable of getting a result. Still, I guess we'll have to show everyone....AGAIN!

 

Looking at the @clubsantoslagun tweets this afternoon, it makes me sad I can't go to the game. I know it's a great stadium, and they've been tweeting pics of fans getting their tix for today's game. It would be great to go next week. If things were different, it would be a perfect Spring Break road trip.

 

Do they hand out kevlar vests as promotional items?

 

You think there is anyway the Dynamo schedule Pachuca for one of those friendlys this year?

 

http://www.houstonpress.com/related/to/Murder+and+Homicide/

 

I've come to realize that there is nothing you like about Houston or the United States - so why are you still in this country if you are here? I'm sure you could do a residency swap with someon from Torreon.

The murder rate in Houston is 11.8 per 100,000. The murder rate in Torreon is 68 per 100,000. At least come up with some statistic that supports your argument

 

Supposedly the Charities Cup is going to be with Stokes City if it all works out. That was according to a tweet today from Lovell, but I've heard that from others the past week or so.

And hopefully Brek and Geoff won't break anything as soon as the papers are signed....