The Dynamo hoped last week’s win over FC Dallas would propel them to a late-season surge toward a top playoff seed.
Following Saturday’s loss to Inter Miami CF, the Dynamo (4-6-7, 19 points) will host Nashville SC (4-6-6, 18 points) on Wednesday as they simply look to surpass less secure Western Conference adversaries.
“Every game from here on out is a final,” Houston midfielder Memo Rodriguez said. “The West is tight. We know that teams are going to get points, so it’s a matter of us being the creator of our own destiny and getting points ourselves and getting over that hump and over that playoff (line).”
Rodriguez is expected to return from a right thigh injury. Forward Mauro Manotas will return from a one-game suspension stemming from a first-half red card against Dallas.
They’ll try to jump-start a Dynamo attack that has sputtered through the fall despite the efforts of forward Darwin Quintero.
“We know that Darwin’s a dangerous player. They’re always going to keep an eye on him just the way he combines with everybody on the pitch,” Rodriguez said. “At times, I think we have to get out of our comfort zone and provide a little bit more to the team.”
Quintero, 33, has carried the Dynamo — even before they lost forward Alberth Elis to Portuguese club Boavista last month. He leads the team in goals (six), assists (eight), total shots (42) and shots on target (17).
The homegrown Rodriguez ranks second among current Dynamo players in all but shots on goal. But coach Tab Ramos is looking for greater efficacy and a more consistent connection between his other attackers.
“Once we lost Alberth, we tried to replace him with different guys at different times,” Ramos said. “Whether it was injury or whether it was suspension or whatever, we’ve been rotating Mauro and Christian (Ramirez), and so not all the guys have played at the same time. The one thing that has been the common denominator up there has been Darwin Quintero. And because he has gotten all the opportunities, I think he has been able to make all the plays he makes. So I think that’s what it takes. It just takes a little time for them to jell together.”
The Dynamo have won one game in their last five and remain in ninth place, beneath the playoff line and tied with the Colorado Rapids on points earned but behind on goal differential. Colorado has played four fewer games than the Dynamo as it works to contain a COVID-19 outbreak that has kept it sidelined from competitive action for three weeks.
But Houston finds hope in the Western Conference parity that exists above the final playoff spot as the Dynamo is within two points of sixth-place FC Dallas.
“We’re in the same situation as all the other clubs. It hasn’t been easy for anyone, especially with all the things that are happening in the league,” Ramos said. “We’re just taking it one game at a time, really. We’re only looking into the game (Wednesday) as our biggest game of the season and a game that we absolutely have to win.”
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Looking to rediscover offense, Dynamo host Nashville FC - Houston Chronicle
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