It’s not every day a 20-pass buildup lead the opening goal of a match. But the Reds did just that last Friday night as Jozy Altidore slammed home his first of two goals against the Houston Dynamo. On this week’s Video Room, let’s take a look back at the genesis of that total team goal.
The Situation
The match remained scoreless into the 15th minute after weathering some early pressure from the visitors. Looking to test to a Dynamo defence that was eager to sit back and get numbers behind the ball, the Reds worked the ball around the pitch, utilizing width and change in pace to find the breakthrough.
The Play
It all starts near midfield in the Houston half as the Reds regain possession and go to work. The buildup starts slow with Michael Bradley operating as the focal point of the move.
He doesn’t force the issue, electing to drop back as he senses the Dynamo pressing a bit higher.
Goalkeeper Alex Bono gets several touches on the ball, content to play some one-two touch with his centerbacks as Houston were reluctant to commit numbers forward. But once Nick Hagglund sees the opportunity to push ahead, he pings a hard pass forward to Victor Vazquez as the attack starts in earnest.
The Spaniard links up with Sebastian Giovinco as he continues to drop a bit deeper into the midfield to collect the ball.
Seba then turns playmaker as he hits the diagonal switch to Raheem Edwards on the left wing, stretching the Dynamo as the Reds push the tempo.
The ball eventually works its way back centrally, and that’s where the killer passes come together. A quick one-touch layoff from Giovinco allows Marky Delgado to swing the ball back out to the wing.
Edwards, with acres of space, expertly takes one touch to push the ball forward before hitting the perfect ball across the 18 for Jozy Altidore, who makes no mistake with the finish.
via GIPHY
What They Said
Greg Vanney: “That is something we have been talking about, finding the moments to be patient and to move teams around with our ball circulation and I thought we saw a lot of that in the first half. An unbelievable came off of that, a great team goal.”
