HOUSTON – While Leonel Miranda is from Argentina, he has a spot for the US Open Cup in his heart.
Early on in his loan stint with the Houston Dynamo, Miranda languished on the bench. Despite the lack of playing time, he kept a cool head and with the help of a strong voice at home, has turned things around thanks in part to a good run in a sometimes deemphasized tournament.
Miranda scored his first goal for the Dynamo in the club’s opening game against the Austin Aztex.
“The Open Cup game was a page turner for me,” Miranda said through a translator. “It was one of those where I was sitting on the bench for a while, and I wasn’t getting anything done. I got the opportunity to play and score, and I was able to turn things around and it gave me a lot of confidence. It’s something that allowed me to build from there.”
Ever since, the Dynamo have needed his services as they’ve been ravaged by injuries and international absences this summer. The Argentine winger has not let his team down.
“It’s very easy for one to become very self-critical and overthink things in terms of what you’re doing wrong and what you can be doing better,” Miranda said. “In my situation, I have my girlfriend who lives with me, and I consult with her all the time about what I can be doing better and where it is I’m failing. It’s extremely important to have her here with me and share with her, and she’s someone I can take refuge with when things aren’t going so well."
Miranda’s girlfriend, Melina, provides him with comfort and a sounding board for things on and off the field. Finding that refuge is important for Miranda.
“She’s my companion, she’s my confidant. It’s extremely important to have her with me,” Miranda said. “She’s learned a lot about football, so whenever I talk to her she’s able to give me a competent answer, right, as to where I can be improving or what I’m doing wrong. She knows me front and back, my good moods, my good days and bad days.”
Lately, it's been mostly good days. And he’s started to translate the message he receives in training to the field on game day, most importantly the need to use his abilities going forward.
“I think the one thing I’ve said and the one thing we want from our wide players is to be really aggressive in terms of getting at opponents,” Coyle said. “I’ve asked him to be really positive, and Leonel was probably asked to play somewhat differently in terms of that position back home in terms of how they set up in that league. When he’s come in he’s never ever let himself or anyone down.”
Now that his game is moving forward, playing time is starting to follow. He’s appeared in eight of the last nine games, including USOC play, while starting five, turning in his finest shift in a Dynamo shirt with his first full 90-minute shift Saturday against the LA Galaxy that included a beautiful chip goal, his first in MLS, to cap a 3-0 win.
“It’s very comforting to know Owen has my back and that he likes me. I know that the football is very different. There was a transitional period there at the beginning, but it’s good to know he’s had plans for me since the get-go,” Miranda said. “To come in and not only be well-rested, but to come into training and do everything he’s asked of me in training and to know all that has translated into playing time and an opportunity for me is very comforting.”
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com.
