Photo: Tim Warner/For The Chronicle

As the second half of the regular season begins Saturday with a game at Colorado, A.J. DeLaGarza (20) and the Dynamo are in a much better spot than they were when the season began.

As the second half of the regular season begins Saturday with a game at Colorado, A.J. DeLaGarza (20) and the Dynamo are in a much better spot than they were when the season began.

Chemistry improving as Dynamo begin second half of season

A.J. DeLaGarza came to the Dynamo with eight years of pro experience and three MLS Cup titles. He had played for ultra-successful coach Bruce Arena and with league legends David Beckham and Landon Donovan.

If any of the Dynamo's new players had a chance to start fast under first-year coach Wilmer Cabrera it was him. Unfortunately for DeLaGarza, it wasn't that easy.

The right back never had played in a 4-3-3 formation.

"This was a new system for a lot of people," DeLaGarza said this week. "Just knowing where my support and my cover is, is all different."

As the second half of the regular season begins Saturday with a game at Colorado, DeLaGarza and the Dynamo are in a much better spot than they were when the season began.

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A last-place finish in 2016 forced a roster overhaul in the off-season. New players came from Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Uruguay, Los Angeles, Seattle, Rio Grande Valley FC, and the NCAA. They all were tasked with the challenge of meshing together in Cabrera's system.

It has taken six months, but Cabrera said the progress has been impressive.

"They are more bound to each other," he said. "They are more comfortable with each other. That is something you can feel every day when we practice."

Despite the newness, the team won early and often. Using an all-out attack that put pressure on opponents all over the field during home games, the Dynamo (7-6-4) sprinted to three wins in their first four games.

As they prepare to play their 18th of 34 regular season games, they remain undefeated at home and are tied for second place in the Western Conference.

Their road woes have been a big story. With a record of 0-6-2, they're still looking for their first win away from BBVA Compass Stadium. Recent road performances have been better, and had a linesman correctly raised his flag for offside in the dying moments of the road game against the LA Galaxy, they would not be winless on the road.

The improved performances prove to them they finally are ready to break through.

"It has been little steps, but consistent steps to improve, to adjust to each other as a team," Cabrera said. "(We have had) good mentality. The mentality has been getting stronger and stronger."

The consistent mentality has allowed the players to remain calm and positive during the low points. Despite their lacking number of road points, they're still in great position to challenge for one of the West's top two seeds.

DeLaGarza said that is significant because the team still believes it has a lot of improving to do compared to other teams whose players have been together longer than six months.

"We know quality is going to come," DeLaGarza said. "We are 17 games into playing with one another. It takes years of time together. Trying to put something together doesn't come overnight, so we are halfway through the season and we have to start ramping it up a little more."

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Chemistry improving as Dynamo begin second half of season - Chron.com