Dynamo offense breaks out in win over Colorado Rapids
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The busy season of Major League Soccer continued on Wednesday night with the Houston Dynamo hosting the Colorado Rapids in the middle of two away matches. The Dynamo beat Colorado 1-0 on the road and were looking to do a double over the Rapids in 2024. Houston came into this match having scored three goals just once in 2024, in their US Open Cup loss to Detroit. They had yet to do it in MLS play, until tonight.
Andrew Tarbell made his second start in goal for the injured Steve Clark and was called on early and often in the first half. He made a save on a long range Rafael Navarro effort in the 7th minute and then had a huge double save to deny the Rapids in the 26th minute. Tarbell ended up making seven saves in the first half to keep Colorado off the score sheet.
The Dynamo had some good play in the 21st minute, leading to two attempts on goal. Micael first rose to get on the end of a corner but couldn’t make solid contact. Seconds later, Aliyu Ibrahim switched the ball to Coco Carrasquilla on the right and the Panamanian volleyed just wide.
Houston got the breakthrough in the 40th minute. Carrasquilla and Griffin Dorsey had some good play on the right edge of the box and Dorsey slipped toward the end line to whip a cross in. Amine Bassi arrived in the six yard box at the perfect time and tapped into the empty net to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead.
Daniel Steres replaced Franco Escobar to begin the second half as the Argentine works himself back to full fitness. It didn’t take long after the whistle blew to restart the game that Colorado found and equalizer. A long bouncing ball into the box was misplayed by Micael, allowing Kevin Cabral to slip in on goal. Tarbell came off his line and wiped Cabral out as he played the ball into the middle of the area. The referee immediately pointed to the spot, awarding the Rapids a penalty kick. Rafael Navarro’s penalty was saved by Tarbell but Djordje Mihailovic was first to the rebound and tucked it away to make the score 1-1 in the 49th minute.
Interim head coach Juan Guerra, who filled in for the suspended Ben Olsen, made two changes an hour into the match to try and turn the tide. Latif Blessing and Ethan Bartlow came on for Carrasquilla and Erik Sviatchenko. The move paid off with Blessing staying in red-hot form.
A 70th minute corner kick for the Dynamo was recycled back into the box where Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen punched it away. The ball flew to the top of the box where Blessing hit a one-time left footed volley that made its way past Steffen and all the Colorado defenders to put the Dynamo back in front, 2-1.
The Dynamo sealed the three points and scored three goals for the first time in MLS play in the 80th minute. A beautiful transition led to Sebastian Kowalczyk with the ball across midfield. He sent Aliyu into space down the left and the Nigerian drove forward to the box. Aliyu pulled the ball back to the top of the box where Kowalczyk was arriving and he tucked his shot into the bottom left corner to make the score 3-1.
Houston continued to dominate possession for the final ten minutes to close the game out and take all three points in a 3-1 win. It was a much-needed win for the Dynamo who are still continuing to find their footing even as we approach summer.
The Dynamo will now head back out on the road for another late match on Saturday against the Portland Timbers. That game will kick off at 9:40 PM in Houston.
