Dynamo put out the Fire to advance to USOC semifinals
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo traveled to Bridgeview, Illinois for a quarterfinal match against the Chicago Fire in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The match was the third road game in seven days for Houston and it wouldn’t be out of the question for the Dynamo to look gassed. Ben Olsen, however, wanted a response from his team and that’s exactly what he got in a dominating 4-1 win for Houston.
Houston went in front just 12 minutes into the match from a place that has become familiar to them. Nelson Quinones was hauled down by Arnaud Souquet in the box and the Dynamo were given a penalty. Amine Bassi stepped to the spot and made it five for five on the season to fire Houston ahead 1-0.
Coco Carrasquilla had the ball in the net again in the 24th minute but the flag was raised for offside. Carrasquilla didn’t get his goal but he turned provider in the 31st minute. The Panamanian won the ball deep in Houston’s half and as he drove forward hit a long ball with the outside of his foot into the path of Aliyu Ibrahim. The Nigerian did the rest, and slotted the ball near post past Chicago goalkeeper Spencer Richey to give the Dynamo a 2-0 lead.
Chicago would begin their comeback attempt, pulling a goal back in the 40th minute. Xherdan Shaqiri’s whipped in corner kick was flicked on by the head of Souquet and in at the far post beyond the dive of Andrew Tarbell. Souquet gave away the penalty for the Dynamo’s first goal but he made up for it, scoring his first goal for Chicago. Maren Haile-Selassie nearly equalized in the 43rd minute but his header was straight to Tarbell. The Dynamo took their 2-1 lead into the halftime break.
With the Dynamo holding onto a 2-1 lead, the Fire looked to have valid complaints for a penalty kick twice in two minutes. Micael had a shot blocked off what seemed to be his arm in the 51st minute but no call was made. Just a minute later, Chicago had an even bigger shout. Tarbell came off his line to challenge the ball but came nowhere near it, wiping out a Chicago player. Once again the referee called nothing. There is no VAR in the Open Cup until the semifinal. Fire fans went wild, throwing objects on the field and causing a few minutes of delay.
To make matters worse for Chicago, the Dynamo would get their third goal minutes later. Nelson Quinones did well to wiggle free in the 59th minute and unleashed a shot from the top of the box. Richey made the save but the rebound fell right to Aliyu in front of goal to tap in. The Nigerian had his brace and the two goal lead was restored for Houston.
Fifteen minutes later it was Quinones turning goal scorer to cement the Dynamo’s place in the semifinals. Substitute Corey Baird broke free on the right and Quinones was all alone in front of goal. Baird squared a pass across and the Colombian made no mistake, scoring his first goal for Houston.
The Dynamo would get the win, 4-1, their first road win against MLS opposition this year, to advance to the semifinal of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Dynamo needed a response. The last two road matches were awful, to be blunt. A combined score of 9-2 is something that can sink a season. Houston showed resilience to come out and put that behind them. They knew they needed to battle on the road and that’s just what they did.
The semifinal of the Open Cup is not until August 23. Houston will play the winner of tomorrow’s match between Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy. We should know who will host that semifinal on Sunday. The Dynamo return home this weekend to take on LAFC in league play. That match will kick off at 7:30 at Shell Energy Stadium.
