Dynamo beat Pachuca in penalty shootout to advance to Leagues Cup Round of 16
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
Just win. That’s the mantra for teams in tournaments. Survive and advance. Just win the game in front of you. The Dynamo have not yet won in the Leagues Cup in regulation. They once again didn’t win in 90 minutes but after a 0-0 draw with Pachuca, another penalty shootout win has the Dynamo into the Round of 16.
The Dynamo started the first half on the front foot. Corey Baird broke through on goal in the 6th minute but failed to get a shot off after his last touch was too heavy. Coco Carrasquilla had a go from distance in the 15th minute that went well over the goal.
Pachuca had two of their best chances in the first half in the 23rd and 24th minute. A shot from distance forced Steve Clark into an akward save that went out for a corner. The ensuing corner fell to lucas Di Yorio right in front of goal but the Argentine skied his shot.
Houston continued to get looks as the half wore on. Erik Sviatchenko headed a corner right at Pachuca goalkeeper Carlos Moreno in the 30th minute. The Dynamo’s best chance came in the 42nd minute when Coco Carrasquilla played Amine Bassi in on goal. Bassi looked to time his run perfectly but Moreno came off his line and snuffed out the shot.
The teams went into the half tied 0-0. Both sides had good looks and the teams were very evenly matched throughout. If there was any momentum it looked to swing from Houston to Pachuca late in the half but Bassi’s late chance showed the Dynamo were still on the front foot.
Just minutes into the second half, Pachuca tried a cross/shot that looked goalward. Clark had to scramble back and punch the ball over the net to keep Pachuca off the score sheet. The game got a little chippy as the second half played on with fouls and yellow cards flying.
The game would end 0-0 and the match went to the penalty spot. The Dynamo were once again clinical from the spot. Houston made all five of their spot kicks. Clark saved Antonio Figueroa on Pachuca’s fourth kick, setting up a chance for the Dynamo to win it. Just as Thor Ulfarsson, Nelson Quinones, Herrera, and Griffin Dorsey did before, Luis Caicedo buried his shot to send the Dynamo to the Round of 16 with a 5-3 win in the shootout.
The Dynamo will now await the winner of tomorrow night’s Charlotte FC vs Cruz Azul match. That game will likely be Monday or Tuesday of next week but details are still to be announced.
