Houston's U.S. Open Cup victory caps remarkable club turnaround

How did Houston manage this in such a short period of time? It's a story of smart spending and marginal improvement that shows how much you can get done when no one is looking. Here are a few of Houston's rebuilding tricks that brought it back to the upper echelons of MLS.

Spend money where it matters, and save where it doesn't... This Houston Dynamo team is not a galactico lineup like the L.A. Galaxy teams of old or the Inter Miami team of today. "Bringing in a Messi is just one way to construct a roster," owner Ted Segal told The Athletic before the U.S. Open Cup final. Houston has focused its spending on a few key players – Mexican forward Hector Herrera in attack and Panamanian midfielder Coco Carrasquilla – while leveraging lesser-known, moldable players for positions it depends on less. One of those players, American Griffin Dorsey, scored a goal in the U.S. Open Cup final that made even Lionel Messi's eyes go wide. It's proof that talent can be found in unexpected places, including Dorsey's, the oft-overlooked MLS SuperDraft.

..especially when it comes to overhead. No one is going to Houston for its state-of-the-art training facilities. Where Western Conference competitors like St. Louis City SC have gorgeous, eye-catching training fields for their players, Houston has a simple set-up next to a strip mall in the suburbs. Its reasoning is simple: if the fans aren't going to see and appreciate the facility, it probably doesn't need to be special to work. 

Focus on the game, not the people behind the curtain. Owner Ted Segal is unique in MLS: a franchise owner who prefers to fly under the radar. While he's happy to spend money on important things that matter to Houston's success, he's not interested in speaking to the press about it. In a league filled with Anthony Precourts and David Beckhams, that reclusiveness is refreshing – and much needed. When the Houston Dynamo speaks to the press, it's only speaking about the game, not the 'brand'; this has built trust between Houston and MLS viewers who respect its focus and authenticity.