Dynamo top New York City FC 1-0 for second straight win
(image via Houston Dynamo FC/Twitter)
The Houston Dynamo picked up their second straight home win, and second win of the 2023 season, beating New York City FC 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium Saturday night. Amine Bassi’s goal from the penalty spot for the second week in a row was the difference. Steve Clark and the Dynamo defense also picked up their second straight clean sheet. Homegrown midfielder Brooklyn Raines made his first start in Major League Soccer, replacing Coco Carrasquilla who missed the match on international duty.
The teams came into this game feeling each other out for most of the first half. There wasn’t much action to write home about in the first 45 minutes as the teams went into the break scoreless. Hector Herrera tried a shot from the center cirlce with New York kepper Luis Barraza well off his line but the Mexican’s shot went high and wide. 18-year-old Brooklyn Raines, making his first MLS start, had a good chance in the 24th minute after a turnover. The Dynamo pressed NYC into a turnover and the ball fell to Raines on the volley but it curled just outside the far post.
Houston came out for the second half similar to last week against Austin. Herrera pulled all the strings and it was the captain who won the penalty. The Mexican international went down after a challenge and the ball ultimately was shot out of play by Teenage Hadebe. For the second week in a row at Shell Energy Stadium, the referee was called to the monitor by VAR. Referee Guido Gonzales Jr pointed to the spot after seeing the video and Amine Bassi took the ball. The Moroccan slammed his penalty low and to Barraza’s right to give the Dynamo the lead.
Luis Caicedo and Griffin Dorsey came into the game to help see the result to the finish line. The back line of Daniel Steres, Ethan Bartlow, Hadebe, and Tate Schmitt did well to limit the dangerous NYCFC attack over 90 minutes. The away side had just 0.27 xG and never tested Steve Clark’s goal, outside of one mistake where Houston’s keeper was well off his line. Santi Rodriguez tried to bend the shot into the open net but pushed it wide. That was really the only big opportunity New York City had on the night.
The Dynamo will return to the road next week for an April Fool’s Day match in San Jose against the Earthquakes. That game will kick off at 9:30 PM in Houston.
