Dynamo unable to take advantage of early goal and man advantage
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo made another trip west, this time for a late night contest against the LA Galaxy in Carson, California. Houston came into this match off their first win of the season last weekend and looked to carry that into this meeting with the winless Galaxy.
Head coach Ben Olsen was forced into one change in the lineup with midfielder Junior Urso missing out because of injury. Brooklyn Raines got his first start of 2025, alongside Artur in the center of the Houston midfield.
It was the Dynamo that struck first, early in the first half. A great bit of build up play led to Sebastian Kowalczyk driving into the box on the left side. He played the ball back for Amine Bassi who one-timed a pass (that may have been a flubbed shot) toward the six yard box. Ezequiel Ponce was there to turn it home and give the Dynamo the 1-0 lead after 14 minutes.
Things looked to get even better for Houston in the 28th minute. Franco Escobar picked out Ponce with a wonderful ball over the top and the DP striker got free of the last defender. That defender, Zanka, pulled Ponce down outside the box and referee Joe Dickerson was left with no choice to show him a straight red card. The ensuing free kick from Bassi was off target but the Galaxy would have to play over an hour down a man.
Houston took their 1-0 lead to halftime. Each team had a shot on target and even possession but Ponce’s goal was the difference after the first 45 minutes.
The 10 men of the Galaxy found their way back into the match after a silly foul from Dynamo captain Artur outside the box. LA’s captain, Diego Fagundez, stepped up to the free kick and whipped it past Blake Gillingham in the 57th minute to level the score at 1-1.
The Dynamo nearly responded immediately. More good work from Kowalczyk on the left led to him getting free to put a cross into the box. Ponce stooped low to get his head on it but the shot clanged off the post.
LA looked to find more on the attack in the second half, even down to 10 men. They had a golden chance on a 2v1 break in the 81st minute. Joseph Paintsil broke away and found Gabriel Pec for what looked to be a golden chance. However, Kowalczyk tracked all the way back to slide and tackle the ball off Pec’s foot right before he could shoot.
Houston pushed for a winner late on. A Griffin Dorsey cross was headed over by Ponce in the 89th minute, signaling the last real chance of the match for either side. Jack McGlynn shot well high in the first minute of stoppage time and the three minutes of added time came and went. The full time whistle blew on a 1-1 draw.
A point on the road is always a solid result but it feels like a letdown here. Houston played over an hour with a man advantage against a team that has yet to win in league play in 2025. Credit to the Galaxy for fighting back after going down early and losing a player but the Dynamo will feel like this is two points dropped. The Dynamo will return to Shell Energy Stadium next week, hosting the Colorado Rapids on Saturday at 7:30 PM.
