HOUSTON – A berth in the Leagues Cup semifinals was there for the taking for the Houston Dynamo against Liga MX side Club America but La Naranja came up short in penalties 6-5.

Despite the loss, the Dynamo put a valiant effort against a Club American side that fielded their first-choice starting XI, while Houston rested regular game starters like Mauro Manotas, Matias Vera, Tomas Martinez, Kiki Struna, Maynor Figuroa, Boniek Garcia, and A.J. DeLaGarza.

One would think that Club America, considered one of the powerhouses of the CONCACAF region, would take the game to the Dynamo, but in a role reversal, it was the Orange that found themselves with the bulk of the scoring opportunities.

“It was a good game from our side. We were very disciplined and organized. The guys on the field battled, and when we had the ball, we tried to go forward to create chances. And we did,” Dynamo head coach Wilmer Cabrera said.

“We came short with our finishing. Because we had the best chances of the game. And when you have the best chances in front of the goalkeeper, you have to finish.”

Wasted opportunities

Creating scoring opportunities and converting them are two different things. It’s a problem that’s plagued the Orange too many times to count this season and it reared it’s ugly head yet again.

Dynamo forward Michael Salazar was the main benefactor of the Orange going forward to create chances, but the former Rio Grande Valley FC player did himself no favors.

Salazar had four shots on goal, including a one-v-one with America ‘keeper Agustín Marchesín, but failed to capitalize on any of them.

After the game, Salazar said he’s never had as many scoring opportunities in one game as he had against Club America. Cabrera made note of it in the post-game conference correcting a reporter who noted that Salazar had a couple of scoring opportunities.

“Four,” Cabrera told the reporter. “We need to be honest,”

On his failure to put any one of them away, Salazar said there’s no excuse.

“I have to help my team and finish the game off. I had chances to put them away,” Salazar said. “I haven’t been playing a lot all season, so it just feels a little like I’m not in form. But, I think I can learn from this for sure and we take away the positives and we move forward from here.”

Legend DMB

One player who made the most of his scoring opportunity was U.S. Men’s National Team and Major League Soccer legend, DaMarcus Beasley.

With La Naranja down a goal and only minutes from full time, the Dynamo left-back showed that despite the wear and tear on his 37-year-old legs, he’s still a force to be reckoned with.

And you can add Leagues Cup to the list of tournaments that Beasley has scored in. That Beasley is still doing things of that nature at his age leaves his teammates speechless.

“It’s pretty incredible,” Dynamo ‘keeper Joe Willis said before pausing to find the words to describe the ageless Beasley. “It’s unbelievable. I’m speechless, to be honest. We’re very fortunate that his legs are still moving. He was huge for us tonight.”

Dynamo winger Romell Quioto concurs with Willis saying that it’s hard to put into words Beasley’s performance.

“Sometimes you’re left speechless seeing how a player like Beasley keeps giving us performances like these,” Quioto said. “We respect him and we just want to keep learning from him.”

Cabrera noted that he went to Beasley and told him that the team needed him to play in the game and captain the side. Beasley, always one who’s up for the challenge, told Cabrera that he was ready.

“That shows his character. It shows that despite being the elder statesman when he needs to push and lead on the pitch, he does it,” Cabrera said. “And today he led, not only playing but scoring an excellent goal. And hopefully, he repeats that before we finish the season.”

Ultimately, it’s a loss for the Orange, but Cabrera and the Dynamo leave the pitch with their heads held high.

“I’m happy with the performance of the players because that’s the way you have to play these type of games,” Cabrera said. “With personality, with discipline and respect for the game which is the most important.”