First half barrage sends Houston Dynamo to 5-1 win over Colorado Rapids
(image via Billy Mears)
With their postseason ticket secured midweek, the Houston Dynamo returned to Shell Energy Stadium Saturday night looking for points to improve their seeding in the Western Conference. The last place Colorado Rapids were the opponent and Houston wasted no time in taking advantage of that, scoring four first half goals en route to a 4-1 win.
It took just three minutes for the Dynamo to open the scoring and start their barrage. Griffin Dorsey drove into the box and was able to get the ball across goal to a wide open Nelson Quinones. The Colombian just had to tap in from very close range and the Dynamo were in front 1-0.
Houston doubled the advantage in the 9th minute through their Moroccan playmaker. Coco Carrasquilla played a perfectly weighted chip into the path of Corey Baird who squared for Amine Bassi for the second tap-in goal of the night. The Dynamo led by two less than ten minutes in and they weren’t done.
Quinones would get his brace in the 28th minute with a lovely bit of finishing. The Colombian was given all kinds of time to settle the ball at the top of the box and he laced a right-footed effort on goal. Rapids goalkeeper Marko Ilic looked to have got a touch but the ball found the side netting to put the Dynamo up 3-0.
Quinones nearly had his hat trick in the 35th minute but Ilic came off his line to make a big save off his chest. The Dynamo would grab their 4th in the 40th minute with a clinical counterattack. After Colorado lost possession, Houston broke the other way with Carrasquilla driving forward. He played the ball into the path of Baird and he slotted home past Ilic.
Colorado pulled a goal back in the second half with a backheeled finish by Cole Bassett in the 53rd minute. Other than that, the Dynamo were able to see out the game quite easily. Houston possessed the ball and kept attacking into the Rapids’ half of the field, leaving them with limited chances to get forward. Houston would put the icing on the cake in the 85th minute.
Quinones once again broke down the left side, as he did all night. He pulled the ball bacl for Bassi who chipped to the back post to a wide open Artur. The Brazilian had time to settle the ball and then beat Ilic with a left-footed shot. Referee Tori Penso would blow the full time whistle a few minutes later on a 5-1 win for the Dynamo.
Tonight’s three points puts the Dynamo up into fourth place in the Western Conference with Vancouver currently playing in Seattle with a chance to knock them to fifth. A top four finish would guarantee two home games for the Dynamo in the first round of the playoffs best of three series. Houston will finish the regular season on October 21 with an away game against the Portland Timbers.
