Anatomy of a Goal: Bassi bags the first of 2025

(image via Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

Amine Bassi scored the Houston Dynamo’s first goal of the 2025 Major League Soccer season on Saturday against FC Dallas at Shell Energy Stadium. It gave Houston a lead in the first half but they conceded twice in the second half and couldn’t find another goal on the night.

Today we’re breaking down Bassi’s goal. All the images we’re using are from the Apple TV broadcast and Major League Soccer’s YouTube highlight video.

The play begins with Bassi (circle) on the ball at midfield. He pulls the ball back as more Dynamo players join into the attack (arrows).

Bassi plays the ball back to Jack McGlynn (circle) and begins his run up field (arrow).

McGlynn (circle), who I called Herrera-esque in an article the other day, looked a lot like Hector on this play. He turned his head to survey the field and saw Griffin Dorsey (top circle) with space on the right side (arrow).

McGlynn’s pass finds the feet of Dorsey (circle) in stride. With Dorsey on the ball, the Dynamo begin to set up their runs (lines), anticipating Dorsey driving forward and playing a ball into a dangerous area.

Dorsey (top circle) gets into the attacking third. Sebastian Kowalczyk (circle and line) calls for a pass into the space. Bassi and Ezequiel Ponce (bottom left circles) drive into the box awaiting a cross.

Kowalczyk (top circle) gets the pass from Dorsey in the box and immediately one-touches it back to Griffin. Aliyu (bottom circle) gets into the box to give an option at the back post while Bassi and Ponce jockey for position (middle circle) in the center.

Dorsey (top circle) one-time cross the pass from Kowalczyk into the box. Aliyu is at the back post and Shaq Moore looks over his shoulder to close the space (line). This allows Ponce and Bassi (bottom circle) to be 2 on 1 against the Dallas center back.

Moore is late to get to Ponce and the Dallas center back is back-tracking, allowing Ponce (left circle) to get up between them and when the header. Bassi (right circle) has peeled off the center back and is open for a knock down.

Bassi gets to the knock down before Maarten Paes can get across (circle) and taps into the net for the goal.

The goal was good buildup from the Dynamo and shows exactly how they want to attack. They want the ball at Dorsey’s feet with Ponce, Bassi, and Aliyu getting into dangerous areas. It didn’t result in any points Saturday but if they can keep doing this consistently this season, the goals should come.