Draw Delivers Preliminary Round and Round of 16 Matchups for 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League

Photo by https://www.concacaf.com/Straffon
Used with permission
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

MIAMI, FLORIDA (September 21, 2020) Concacaf today conducted the official draw for Preliminary Round and Round of 16 matchups of the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League. The tournament is set to kick off on October 20.  

 
The draw, which was hosted by TV personalities Alejandro de la Rosa (TUDN) and Natalia Alvarez (ESPN), included appearances by Honduran football legend Amado Guevara and Concacaf General Secretary Philippe Moggio. 
 
In order to fit the competition into a new schedule, the Preliminary Round and Round of 16 will be played as single game ties at the highest ranked club’s stadium. All other rounds will be played as two game ties (home and away).  
 
The 12 clubs participating in the Preliminary Round of the competition have been divided into six pairings as follows (home club listed first):  
 
Matchup #1: CD FAS (SLV) vs Managua FC (NCA) 
Matchup #2: LD Alajuelense (CRC) vs Cibao FC (DOM) 
Matchup #3: CD Municipal Limeño (SLV) vs Forge FC (CAN)  
Matchup #4: CA Independiente (PAN) vs Antigua GFC (GUA) 
Matchup #5: Arcahaie FC (HAI) vs Verdes FC (BLZ) 
Matchup #6: FC Motagua (HON) vs Comunicaciones FC (GUA) 
 
The six Preliminary Round matchups will be played October 20-22, as single game ties at the highest ranked club’s stadium.  
 
The ten clubs seeded into the Round of 16 and the six Preliminary Round winners have been divided into eight parings and will play as follows (home team listed first):  
   
Matchup #1: Deportivo Saprissa (CRC) vs CSD Municipal (GUA) 
Matchup #2: CD Marathon (HON) vs CA Independiente (PAN) or Antigua GFC (GUA) 
Matchup #3: Tauro FC (PAN) vs CD Municipal Limeño (SLV) or Forge FC (CAN) 
Matchup #4: Waterhouse FC (JAM) vs Arcahaie FC (HAI) or Verdes FC (BLZ) 
Matchup #5: Alianza FC (SLV) vs FC Motagua (HON) or Comunicaciones FC (GUA) 
Matchup #6: CD Olimpia (HON) vs CD FAS (SLV) or Managua FC (NCA) 
Matchup #7: San Francisco FC (PAN) vs LD Alajuelense (CRC) or Cibao FC (DOM) 
Matchup #8: CS Herediano (CRC) vs Real Esteli FC (NCA) 

The schedule for the all rounds of the competition is as follows: 
 
October 2020  
20-22 Preliminary Round (single leg match)  
 
November 2020  
3-5: Round of 16 (single leg match)  
 
December 2020  
1-3: Quarterfinals (first leg)  
8-10: Quarterfinals (second leg)  
 
January 2021  
5-7: Semifinals (first leg)  
12-14 Semifinals (second leg)  
19-21: Final (first leg)  
26-28: Final (second leg) 
 
Kick off times and venues, will be announced in the coming days. 

In addition to qualifying its champion to the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, the tournament now qualifies a further five teams. At the end of the Concacaf League , the champion and the next five best ranked will qualify to the 2021 edition of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. 

Houston Texans ready to show improvement

Story and photo by Lou Roesch
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 20, 2020) It may not take much for the Houston Texans to show improvement following last week's season opening loss at Kansas City. Improvement comes in many forms and after six plus years of hearing general manager/head coach Bill O'Brien say we need to do better, it's time to see better.

What exactly is better for the Houston Texans? After all this is a team that averages nine wins a season so would we feel better with a 10 win team in 2020? This is a team that has won its fair share of AFC South titles, would another one make us think they are any better in 2020? This is a team that has stars at multiple positions and potential stars at others. Would one more star make us better or did trading away our star receiver make us better?

Better is a relative term and is of course in the eye of the beholder it is all about perspective. Come Sunday, the Texans will host a Baltimore Ravens team that has gotten better ever since Lamar Jackson lined up under center. Getting better doesn't necessarily mean more wins although that would be nice. Getting better on Sunday means your personnel show up in front of a nationally televised audience again and this time they play like they belong on national TV. Getting better means not coming out flat. Getting better means not sitting back after scoring the opening touchdown and thinking man we sure showed them. Getting better means manhandling the Baltimore offensive line and containing Lamar Jackson.

One aspect that will help the Houston Texans get better fast is to hand David Johnson the rock 25 times and let him prove he is still a stud runner. When your main man carries the ball for a 7 yard gain each time he touches it, the only thing you have to do is get better at handing him the ball. If Johnson runs for 100 plus yards and two scores on Sunday, the Texans will win, fans will feel better and no one will have to hear O'Brien say "we got outplayed, out coached, out executed, gotta do better."

If the offensive line is the unmovable wall on Sunday instead of the wall of play dough they were last Thursday in Kansas City, things will be better. Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson had all of 2.59 seconds to throw on average. Even another full second would be better. A more stout performance by the line, a steady diet of David Johnson and Watson plays lights out and all will be better in Texans world.

As long as JJ Watt is a member of the Houston defense, they can always become better. What does better look like. Better sees more JJ Watt through the middle and Jacob Martin playing more then 16 snaps a game. Better includes more tackles and less misses as in 20 at Kansas City. What if that had only been 10 missed tackles.

Getting better and winning at the game of football is about executing the fundamentals correctly. It's about coming out and playing a full four quarters of football. Houston has the talent to match up with the Baltimore Ravens. The question is whether or not they will play better as a team. If they do, a win is a possibility. If not, we will have the same old excuses regurgitated for yet another week.

Houston Dynamo rally in second half for 2-2 draw against Minnesota United FC

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 19, 2020) In the first game with fans in attendance at BBVA Stadium since February 29, the Houston Dynamo scored two goals in the second half and settled for a 2-2 draw against Minnesota United FC on Saturday evening. The draw extended their unbeaten streak to four at BBVA Stadium since returning from the "MLS is Back" Tournament, and improved their home record to 2-0-3.

Minnesota got on the board first, giving them a 2-0 lead at the half. Said goals were scored by midfielder Kevin "Hot Boy" Molina in the 12th minute, and midfielder Robin Lad in the first minute of first half added time. Medina, who hails from Carenage, Diego Martin, Trinidad and Tobago, increased his season total to six. The second goal of the match, pushed the Helsinki, Finland native's total to four goals in 2020.

Houston responded with their two goals eleven minutes apart in the second half. Forward Darwin Quintero scored first for the Dynamo, in the 58th minute; his fifth of the season. That was followed by a 69th minute score by Maynor Figueroa It was the first of the season for the Columbian.

Figueroa stated (translated from Spanish to English):

"Happy, scoring a goal always represents something for every player. Obviously, in my job, first of all, defending and well, I had the opportunity to go on the attack in that free kick. And have the conviction that the ball was going to stay there and to be able to help the team with the draw. But, obviously, wanting more. The desire to have taken the three points, the more we are in local condition." 

Quintero was also quoted:

 “When you miss a penalty, the only way to feel better is to score. I knew I had to score one way or another because I missed it, and thanks to God that happened. I was able to finish it. We’re not going home happy with the result because we feel we always have to win at home, but we’re content with the draw because we were able to come back from being behind two goals to zero.”

 The Dynamo will be back in action Wednesday night when they travel to the Windy City to take on Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field. That match will mark the Dynamo’s first of the year against an Eastern Conference foe and the club’s first visit to Soldier Field. The match is set for a 6:30 p.m. CDT kickoff and will be televised live throughout Houston on QuestTEXAS Ch. 55 in English and TelExitos Ch. 47.2 in Spanish.

                                                                                   

Houston Dash fall to North Carolina Courage 4-3; finish match with 10 players

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

CARY, NORTH CAROLINA (September 12, 2020) Playing without the services of Rachel Daly, the Houston Dash played the final 40 minutes of the game with ten players, and fell to the North Carolina Courage 4-3 in the first match for both squads in the Verizon NWSL Community Shield.

Houston, playing their first game since winning the NWSL Challenge Cup, were without the talent of team co-captain Rachel Daly, who currently is "on loan" to West Ham United of the Barclays FA Women's Super League in England.

In reality, the Dash held a 2-1 lead until the final seven minutes when the Courage scored their final two goals in the 83rd and 86th minute. Whether it was fatigue or playing almost the entire second half down a player, is a discussion for another time. They scored two of their three goals early in the match; both off assists by Shea Groom. Veronica Latsco tallied Houston's first goal in the 25th minute, to even the score at one. Abby Dahlkemper put North Carolina on the board in the 18th minute, with a successful penalty kick, for the first score of the game. Kristie Mewis followed Latsco's goal 12 minutes later, to give the Houstona 2-1 lead at halftime.

In the 53th minute, the Dash when a player down when Allyssa Chapman received a her second yellow card of the game; colliding with a North Carolina player along the touchline. She received her first yellow card in the 18th when she slipped into Debokhs' ankle, in an attempt to break up the play. The caution foul resulted in Dahlkemper's pentaly kick goal

The Courage evened the score at two, in the 52nd minute, with a goal by Debinha. Houston responded in the 70th minute with a go-a-head goal bu Sophie Schmidt. North Carolina close out the match with their two final goals to secure the win.

Houston head coach James Clarkson expressed his disappointment in the loss after the match.

“I’m really disappointed in the result, I thought we could have had the game won by halftime. We had a number of chances that we didn’t put away and if you leave a team like this hanging around there is always a chance they can come back and take it. Obviously, getting somebody sent off that early in the second half made it difficult. I think the players showed amazing courage and fight to get back into the game and take the lead. We just had a quick chat about it and we are really disappointed in how we handled and finished the game out, because there were three points to be won out there today.”

In addition, he also praised the play of Groom.

"She has maintained a fantastic level and the way she played today was incredible on both sides of the ball. Two really good assists, she is disappointed because she could have had a couple of goals in the first half and ultimately, when you go back and look at the game they have two World Cup winners and arguably the best player in the league on the field. They scored their chances and their finishing has been top drawer, their finishing has been great. We have been very wasteful in front of goal.”

The Dash return to play on Saturday, September 26 when they host the Orlando Pride at BBVA Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CDT.

Houston Dynamo fall 2-1 to FC Dallas; Elis may be leaving team

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis,
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

DALLAS, TEXAS (September 12, 2020) The Houston Dynamo had their six-game unbeaten streak come to an end with a 2-1 loss to FC Dallas at on Saturday evening. Midfielder Memo Rodriguez scored the lone goal for Houston; his third of the season, off a free kick, in the 41st minute. He stated after the match:

"During training, (forward) Darwin (Quintero) has taken most of the free-kicks but I told him if we had one this game, I wanted to take it. I think they expected him to take it because they put a wall with a guy that was on one knee. I think that gave me a little but of an advantage and I knew it was pretty close so I tried to hit it as hard as I could to the goalie’s side and thankfully it went in.’’

His goal was the 13th for the club in 2020.

Against Dallas, Houston was without the services of Alberth Elis. He did not play in the Dynamo's Wednesday's game against the Colorado Rapids, which ended in a 1-1 draw, despite nor being on the club's injury list. Against Dallas he did not play. Prior to the match, he was  listed as questionable with a left thigh injury.

It has been speculated in various media outlets that Elis may be headed to Boavista in Portugal. He has been a consistent producer since arriving at the Dynamo during the middle of the 2017 season. He has 34 goals and 27 assists in 88 MLS appearances, including four goals and three assists over six games in Ramos' first year in charge.

Head coach Tab Ramos (shown above) addressed the potential loss of Elis, in his post game press conference

“To be perfectly honest, I’m not really sure; it sounds like something is going to happen with Alberth, but at this point I can’t really expand on that because I really don’t know. I know he was half in training yesterday, but there’s a good possibility that he goes overseas."

Houston will return to action on Saturday, September 19 when they host Minnesota in their first home match with fans in attendance since the pandemic shutdown.

HBU, Zappe "More Than Shine" in 35-33 loss to Texas Tech

File photo by
Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

LUBBOCK, TEXAS (September 12, 2020) In a game that they were slated as a 41-point underdog, the HBU Huskies fell to the Texas Tech Red Raiders by the score of 35-33 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock. With the near loss, the Huskies dropped to 0-2 in the pandemic-shorten season, with a two week break until the face Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana on Saturday, September 26. The Tech win was the first in as many games for the HBU's Big 12 foe.

Husky quarterback Bailey Zappe (shown above left) connected on 30-of-67 apsses for 567 yards and four touchdowns. His frequent targets were the brothers Sterns. Jerreth caught 12 passes for  130 yards and one touchdown, with Josh having five receptions for 209 yards and two TDs. DJ Dormeus had three catches for 82 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Brennan Young tallied 13 tackles, 12 of them solo with Caleb Johnson also accounting for 13, eight of them solo. Isaiah Cash had the game's lone interception, which he returned for 15 yards.

Zappe, in twe games, has completed 73 passes on 111 attempts for 1.047 yards and seven touchdowns without throwing any interceptions. Against North Texas, on September 5,  his longest completed pass was 71 yards. Versus the Red Raiders, had-a 75-yard completion to Josh Sterns in the fourth quarter for the second of his scores.

The Husky's game against Louisiana Tech on September 26 will be broadcast on ESPN3 and on the Husky Sports Network (KKME Digital) with Lonnie King behind the microphone.

Rough start for the Houston Texans in 34-20 loss at Kansas City

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI (September 11, 2020)  The Houston Texans opened the 2020 football season with a 34-20 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. It was a game that everyone from the top of the organization to the fanbase had waited  for for nearly nine months. It was the start that fans feared would happen but hoped they would not have to endure. After another flat showing on national television, Houston head coach Bill O'Brien has no one left to blame but himself.

The Texans came out strong scoring the opening touchdown salvo on their second drive and then much like last January the Chiefs took over scoring 31 unanswered points and just like that the game was over. Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson ran for his life nearly all night as the highly touted offensive line looked more like a sieve then a wall. Oh there were a few moments where the Texans showed some flash but never sustainable until the game was out of reach midway through the fourth quarter.

Texans game notes touted the fact that defense held the Chiefs scoreless in the first quarter for the first time since November of the 2019 season but what about the other three quarters of football. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for his third lowest yards per attempt yet still he was good enough to throw three scoring strikes. The Texans held the Chiefs offense to just 203 net total yards but where it mattered most, Kansas City still put up 34 points.

Houston's David Johnson ran for 77 yards on 11 carries but maybe we should talk about the play calling. Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly's play calling after the initial scoring drive looked more like O'Brien was calling the plays. Probably a good thing BOB was wearing a mask on this night because we can only imagine the grimaces he wore. The Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-

Hellarie rushed for more yards then the entire Houston offense 138 to 118 on just three more carries. If Johnson is healthy and running hard like he was, let him be the stud running back they tell us he is and not only control the clock but maybe the tempo too. A vaunted running game relieves the pressure off Watson and the O-line even us armchair Friday afternoon quarterbacks know that. Instead the braintrust throws the ball under pressure (2.59 seconds per attempt)on 68% of the team's plays costing #4 seven QB hits and four sacks. SMH.

It doesn't get any easier for the Houston Texans. In 10 days, the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson come calling at NRG. Only time will tell if things get better.

Late Manotas' goal gives Houston 2-1 win over Kansas City

Photo by 
Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (September 5, 2020) The Houston Dynamo improved their season record to 3-2-4 and extended their winning streak to three with a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City at BBVA Stadium. The win gave them back-to-back victories for the first time this season. In addition, it improved their all-time season record against Kansas City to 12-9-13.

Kansas City scored first with a nice shot from the right of the box in the 30th minute by Erik Hurtado. The 29-year-old forward's goal was his second of the 2020 season; having scored his first goal of 2020 against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on February 29.

Houston evened the score 29 minutes later, in the 50th minute, with a goal by forward Alberth Elis, his fourth in 2020. With the score, 24-year-old Honduran needs nine goals to tie Brad Davis for third most goals scored for the Dynamo across all competitions, at 45.

Mauro Manotas gave the Dynamo the lead in the 86th minute when he got a perfect setup from Zarek Valentin to push the score to 2-1. Manotas's score pushed his regular-season goals to 50; tying Bruin for the second most goals for Houston during regular-season action.

Kansas City and Houston met on August 25, with the Dynamo earned their first win of the season courtesy of goals from Ellis, Christian Ramirez and Niko Hanson.  Houston will close Phase 1 on the road as they travel to Colorado on Wednesday, September 9 and travel to Frisco ti play FC Dallas for the second leg of the Texas Derby.