After being benched, Dynamo’s Tyler Deric is standing tall

Recommended Video:

Tyler Deric had seen better days.

Following the Dynamo's loss at New England in early April in which he made several costly mistakes, Deric was benched as the team's goalkeeper.

For the next seven games, Deric watched as Joe Willis took his turn between the posts. Deric was working hard in training and supported Willis, but deep down he was seething.

"I wasn't happy at the time," Deric said this week. "I respect the manager's decisions. I had to take it for what it is. I'm only in control of me. I had to take a step back and realize what was going on and try to fix it."

Deric's shortcomings during the season's first five games were all over the place. His distribution, positioning and aggression all needed work.

At the time, coach Wilmer Cabrera said Deric had made mistakes he should not have been making and that he wanted to give Willis a chance to prove he could be the team's long-term starter.

This week, Cabrera said Deric was getting too comfortable at the time and as a result, was relaxing too much.

Tyler Deric's performance in Sunday's 0-0 draw against Sporting Kansas City was a perfect example of how far he has come since reclaiming the starting job in late May. Tyler Deric's performance in Sunday's 0-0 draw against Sporting Kansas City was a perfect example of how far he has come since reclaiming the starting job in late May. Photo: Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle Photo: Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close After being benched, Dynamo’s Tyler Deric is standing tall 1 / 8 Back to Gallery

"We needed competition over here every day," Cabrera said this week. "We tried to create that. It has been good. Tyler, the last game, was outstanding with his performance. He made some unbelievable saves that prove right now he has good momentum."

Deric's performance in Sunday's 0-0 draw against Sporting Kansas City was a perfect example of how far he has come since reclaiming the starting job in late May.

He often was in the right position and saved several shots because of that. He showed he still has a flare for the dramatic, too.

Sporting KC attacked one final time in the 97th minute and made it a dangerous one when Jimmy Medranda crossed the ball to the face of the net. The ball deflected off Dynamo defender Adolfo Machado and down inside the 6-yard box.

Sporting KC forward Latif Blessing reached his right foot to deflect the ball, but Deric dove to swat it off the goal line despite the fact Sporting KC's Benny Feilhaber was falling into him.

"It was so quick," Dynamo defender Leonardo said. "The guy missed his touch a little bit, but (Tyler) had a very good reaction. It was like God's hands in there helping him touch the ball. It was perfect."

Deric's perfect performance helped to preserve the Dynamo's first clean sheet in eight games and earned him a spot in MLS' Team of the Week.

It also provided more proof that Deric has come a long way since being benched in April.

He returned to the starting lineup on May 28 at FC Dallas and made a pair of sparkling saves in a 0-0 draw. After the game, Cabrera said he made the change back to Deric because the Dynamo needed someone who could save them.

With the feeling of being benched still fresh in his mind, Deric took advantage of his second opportunity and has not let go of it.

"I tried to take (being benched) as a positive even though it was a really low point of the season for me – learn from it and become a better goalkeeper," Deric said this week. "When Wilmer said I was going to start that game (at FC Dallas) it was a good feeling. I wanted to prepare the best I could to not go back to the position I was in on the bench. I don't like being there."