Dynamo concede late and lose in penalties to Toluca
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Leagues Cup knockout stages began with the Houston Dynamo hosting Liga MX side Toluca at Shell Energy Stadium Friday night. Both teams came into the match in fine league form and having won their last match. A battle ensued between two very good teams, with some late drama, leaving just one standing to advance to the Round of 16.
Steve Clark returned to the starting lineup in goal, with the other ten players remaining the same from Monday’s win over Real Salt Lake. The Dynamo dominated possession early on, but only had a couple of tame shots to show for it. Toluca hit the post with a header after 18 minutes but the offside flag went up.
Ezequiel Ponce was lively in the first half, making good runs and pressing at every chance. The Argentine striker found the ball on his foot in the box in the 20th minute but he skied it over the goal. Captain Hector Herrera had a free kick outside the box ten minutes later but Toluca goalkeeper Tiago Volpi dove to make the save.
Toluca got the opening goal in the 38th minute off a Dynamo mistake. A long ball from Clark came back into the Dynamo defensive third and Micael couldn’t play it cleanly and lost possession. Maximiliano Araujo laid the ball off for Jesus Angulo and his shot deflected right into the side netting to put the away side ahead 1-0.
The Dynamo answered back quickly. Ponce continued his good half, making a run into the box. Amine Bassi chipped the ball to Ponce who controlled the ball off his chest and then took two juggles with his right foot to clear space. The DP striker then swiveled and roofed a shot with his left foot to equalize in the 41st minute. A long check from VAR had Dynamo fans waiting but the goal stood after Ponce just kept himself onside.
Houston came out in the second half with a renewed energy and kept their foot on the pedal. Ben Olsen made his first change of the match, bringing Lawrence Ennali and Sebastian Kowalczyk on after 59 minutes.
Minutes later the Dynamo got the go ahead goal. A corner sent in by Herrera was flicked onto the back post to Franco Escobar. He squared the ball in front of Micael and the Brazilian tapped into the empty net. The flag went up for offside but a check with VAR confirmed Escobar was onside and the goal stood to give Houston a 2-1 lead in the 62nd minute.
Ezequiel Ponce looked to have a brace in the 67th minute, snapping a header past Volpi. Once again VAR got involved and the goal was waved off for Herrera being offside earlier in the play. Bassi then scored with a chip on a breakaway in the 72nd minute but VAR wasn’t needed this time as the AR put the flag up to call this goal back for offside as well.
Toluca pushed to find a leveler as they began to get forward and get players into Houston’s box. Clark made a big save in the 80th minute on a header from close range, leaping to tip the ball over the crossbar.
The Dynamo couldn’t put the game away with multiple chances late on, and Toluca made them pay. A corner kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time had the away side send everyone, including their goalkeeper Volpi, into the box. The ball was flicked on at the near post by Jesus Gallardo and Edgar Lopez was all alone at the back post to head into the empty net. Substitute Ethan Bartlow lost Lopez on the play and the Red Devils sent the game to penalty kicks.
Houston made their first three kicks from the spot with Dorsey, Kowalczk and Ferreira scoring. Ennali took the Dynamo’s fourth and was saved by Volpi. Erik Sviatchenko score the Dynamo’s fifth penalty but Edgar Lopez made it a perfect five for five for Toluca to win the shootout. Toluca are on to the Round of 16 and the Dynamo’s Leagues Cup run comes to an end.
The Dynamo will return to play on August 24 when the Major League Soccer season resumes. Houston will host Toronto FC that night, looking to get back into good form for the final stretch of the season and a potential run to the playoffs.
