Late season friendlies aren’t typically the norm in MLS, but the Houston Dynamo’s test against Chivas de Guadalajara came at just the right time for handful of new players.
With the regular season winding down and playoff hopes dwindling, Sunday night’s match gave debuts to Calle Brown, Yair Arboleda, Keyner Brown, and José Escalante. It was a chance especially for the latter three—all additions over the summer transfer window—to show their skills away from the training pitch.
“This was big. Like I said, I wanted to see those guys play in a meaningful game,” Dynamo interim head coach Wade Barrett told media after the scoreless draw.