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Here are three takeaways from the Houston Dynamo’s 1-1 draw to FC Dallas in the first Texas Derby of the year.
Mauro Manotas on scoring tear
The 23-year-old striker notched his 10th goal of the season to match his season career high, a tally he set last year. Manotas has scored in six of his last eight appearances across all competitions and notched goals in six of his last seven starts for a total of eight goals in that span. With 15 games left in the season, Manotas is certain to set a new career high.
Beyond that, the Colombian striker wants to break the Dynamo’s regular-season scoring record of 14 goals, which former Dynamo Erick ‘Cubo’ Torres set in 2017. Manotas said that entering this season, his first goal was to surpass last season’s goal tally and after that, it was to break Torres’ single-season scoring record. Additionally, Manotas could break Will Bruin’s record of 16 goals across all competitions in a single season.
Jared Watts plays significant minutes
Dynamo centerback Jared Watts started his third game of the season, and played a full 90 for the second time. His first start, against Real Salt Lake in late May, ended with him picking up a concussion and being subbed off at halftime. Now, healthy and available, the former Rapids player has proved useful in the Dynamo defense.
Cabrera said that Watts showed against Dallas why Houston traded for him and that he stepped up when he was called upon to play.
“He talks a lot and he’s very good with the ball at his feet. He likes to play with it,” Dynamo ‘keeper Joe Willis said. “He finds passes that beat lines and move us up the field. He’s a smart defender so he brings a lot to our team.”
Watts indeed put those passing skills on display against FC Dallas. The 26-year-old switched the point of attack by sending a long diagonal pass to Romell Quioto that led to Manotas’ tying goal. The pass earned him a secondary assist. His first with Houston.
Home unbeaten streak continues
It wasn’t pretty, but the Dynamo extended their home unbeaten streak to 10 games across all competitions. While the Orange aren’t as solid at home as they were last year in the MLS regular season, when they posted a 12-1-4 record, they’ve been able to get stay unbeaten in their last 10 home games, including three U.S. Open Cup games.
“It’s important to not lose at home. Like we say in the locker room, our house shall be respected and we need to give it our all to get good results,” Dynamo midfielder Darwin Ceren said. “Obviously, our opponents are going to come to play and we’re going to face some good rivals who are going to play a good game. Today we faced a good rival, who’s first place [in the Western Conference standings] and there’s a reason they are in first place, and that’s because they have a solid defense.”