Dynamo overcome injuries to earn point in Seattle
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo made their first trip to the Pacific Northwest in March, this time to Seattle for a meeting with the Sounders. Houston had never won in Seattle coming into this meeting and it was the Sounders who ended the Dynamo’s 2024 season in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Jimmy Maurer made his first start for Houston in goal, replacing Andrew Tarbell who suffered a torn ACL in the loss to Real Salt Lake last week. Junior Urso also made his start for the club, slotting into the midfield in place of Jack McGlynn who is with the US Men’s National Team.
Maurer was tested early and often by the Seattle attack. In the 15th minute, he did well to go up and parry away a shot from Albert Rusnak from a tight angle that looked destined for the roof of the net. Minutes later, the defense took another hit, with another injury.
Washington native Ethan Bartlow went down near the sideline and nedded help from the Dynamo training staff. Bartlow quicly realized he would be unable to continue and had to leave the match after just 20 minutes. He got a hug from Erik Sviatchenko as he took a place on the bench with Daniel Steres checking into the match at left back and moving Franco Escobar to center back.
Houston’s goalkeeper continued to put on a show for the remainder of the first half. Maurer made a big save in the 39th minute, leaping high to palm away a shot from Danny Leya. Then in the 43rd minute, Maurer got across to his left and made himself big to save Alex Roldan’s effort from inside the box.
The Dynamo injury bug struck again in the second half. Paul Rothrock, who has been a Houston killer, scored in the 62nd minute but was well offside and the flag went up. When Maurer took the free kick and sent the ball down field he immediately felt something in his leg and called for the training staff. They looked him over, with backup Blake Gillingham warming up on the sideline, but Maurer stayed in the match, briefly. Maurer tried kicking the ball a few more times but was unable to continue. Gillingham entered for his pro and Houston debut in the 68th minute.
Houston tried to slow the match down and play for the road point. Urso, Steres, and Escobar all picked up yellow cards as the second half played on and the Dynamo tried to hold the scoreless draw. Gillingham did come off his line a couple of times to claim a clow ball into the box and then punch away a cross.
The 82nd minute saw a half chance for the Dynamo. Griffin Dorsey cut back onto his left and floated a cross into the box. Amine Bassi was there but sandwiched by two Seattle defenders, his header could only drift wide of goal. Substitute Erik Dueñas also found a little space in the box in the 88th minute but couldn’t get his footing and didn’t get a shot off cleanly.
Gillingham was called on in stoppage time to preserve the shutout. The debutant went up to his right and tipped away Alex Roldan’s shot that looked destined for the top corner. The full time whistle blew and the Dynamo earned a point with the 0-0 draw against the Sounders. It wasn’t pretty and there are more injury concerns but another road point against a solid opponent is a step in the right direction.
Houston will again visit the Pacific Northwest next weekend, this time to Oregon to take on the Portland Timbers on Sunday night.
