Four first half goals power Dynamo to convincing win over Timbers
(image via Billy Mears)
The Houston Dynamo returned to leagues play with a dominant 5-0 win over the Portland Timbers at Shell Energy Stadium Sunday night. Houston came out of the gate with three goals in the opening 14 minutes to put to bed any doubt of the outcome of this match. The win helps keep Houston keep pace in the Western Conference ahead of Wednesday’s Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semifinal against Real Salt Lake.
Griffin Dorsey went down in the box in the opening minutes and referee Marcos DeOliveira went to VAR and then pointed to the spot. Amine Bassi stepped up and put away his club record 6th penalty kick of the season to give the Dynamo. Bassi broke the previous record set by Cubo Torres in 2017.
Birthday boy Nelson Quinones doubled the lead in the 11th minute. Coco Carrasquilla picked out Hector Herrera near the penalty spot and the Dynamo captain headed down for Quinones. The Colombian swiveled and one-touced his shot acrobatically past Portland goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic to make it 2-0.
Just minutes later the Dynamo would add a third. Carrasquilla was involved again as he played Corey Baird in alone on goal. Baird chipped Ivacic perfectly to cap off a perfect opening quarter of an hour.
As halftime approached, defender Franco Escobar picked up the ball at midfield and drove forward. Escobar played a one-two with Baird that sprung him in behind the Portland defense. Another perfectly chipped shot, this time from Escobar, would leave Ivacic stranded and put the Dynamo up 4-0 at the break.
Portland came out for the second half and made four subs. The changes didn’t do them much good and some old fashioned route one football gave the Dynamo their fifth goal on the night. Goalkeeper Steve Clark launched the ball forward for substitute Brad Smith to run onto. The Australian took one touch to control and then smashed a volley with his right foot into the top corner in the 63rd minute.
With a five goal lead, the Dynamo were able to see out the rest of the match comfortably. New signing Sebastian Kowalczyk came on for his debut in the 74th minute. The final whistle blew at a still very hot Shell Energy Stadium with the Dynamo securing the three points from a 5-0 win.
Houston will now turn their attention to Wednesday’s meeting with Real Salt Lake in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup semifinal at Shell Energy Stadium. A win will put the Dynamo into the final against either FC Cincinnati or Inter Miami with a berth to the Concacaf Champions Cup on the line.
