Dynamo once again downed by late Austin goal
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo took their shortest road trip of the season as they headed west to the state capital for a meeting with Austin FC. Houston was looking for a bit of revenge after Austin came into Shell Energy Stadium last month and beat the Dynamo 1-0. Unfortunately for Houston, the script played out almost identically.
Ben Olsen made some changes to the lineup, most notably returning a still recovering Hector Herrera to the bench. It was nearly a disaster start for the Dynamo as the game got underway. Casual play in the back saw the ball fall to Diego Rubio from a tough angle and the Chilean smashed a shot off the crossbar in the opening seconds.
Twenty minutes later, Austin hit the post again, this time by an onrushing Alex Ring. His deflection caromed off the woodwork to keep the game scoreless. Houston’s best chance of the half came in the 27th minute at the foot of Sebastian Kowalczyk. A pass into the box for Amine Bassi eluded him and the defender and set up for Kowalczyk. He hit his volley right into Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver, unable to find the back of the net.
Sebastian Driussi had one last chance in the first half, in the 42nd minute, but he tried to rabona a cross from 6 yards out and sent it wide. The teams went to their locker rooms still tied 0-0.
Defender Erik Sviatchenko got into the attack early in the second half. He snapped a header on goal in the 54th minute that Stuver had to leap to punch away. The Danish center back had another chance in the 56th but again Stuver was there to claim.
Olsen made two changes at the hour mark, bringing Micael on for Sviatchenko and Herrera on for Latif Blessing. Herrera’s introduction brought some life to the Dynamo offense as they controlled the ball and stayed on the front foot. Aliyu Ibrahim collected a loose corner kick outside the box and stung the outside of the box with a shot from distance.
Just like in Houston on April 20, it was the late show for Austin, against the run of play, that gave them the victory. A corner into the box, in the 87th minute, popped up in the six yard box and Driussi made no mistake, beating Steve Clark to score the match’s lone goal.
The second win of the season for Austin over the Dynamo sees them now leapfrog Houston in the Western Conference standings. The Dynamo will have to dust themselves off quickly as they have another derby on Saturday. FC Dallas will visit Shell Energy Stadium as Houston tries to avoid going 0 for 4 in in-state matches in 2024.
