Messi-less Miami dominate Dynamo
(image via Ricky Vega)
Two teams looking for their first wins of the 2025 Major League Soccer season, the Houston Dynamo and Inter Miami, met at Shell Energy Stadium for Sunday night soccer. The big news pre-match came down Saturday with the confirmation that superstar Lionel Messi did not make the trip to Houston. The big crowd at Shell Energy Stadium were bummed to miss out on seeing the legend in action but they were still treated to a dominating performance from Miami.
Houston’s downfall last week came in large part because of mistakes in the back and another put them down early in this match. Femi Awodesu, making his second straight start, tried to pass the ball to a retreating Jack McGlynn but Benjamin Cremaschi closed him down and blocked the midfielder’s attempted pass. The ball fell to Luis Suarez who squared to Telasco Segovia for an easy finish to put Miami ahead 1-0 after just 6 minutes.
Miami stayed on the front foot for most of the first half. Suarez shot wide in the 11th and 26th minutes. The away side continued running at Houston. They doubled their lead in the 37th minute. McGlynn tried a cross into the box but put it right at a Miami player. The Herons immediately broke on the counter and Suarez played a brilliant one-timed flick through ball for Tadeo Allende to run onto him. The Argentine carried into the box and unleashed a left-footed striker past Andrew Tarbell to double the lead.
Before the Dynamo could limp into half time down two goals, things got worse. Artur lost the ball in midfield and Miami broke again. Suarez eventually found Segovia in the box and he was able to turn and bag his second of the night. It was Suarez’s third assist of the match and the halftime whistle blew shortly after. The Dynamo retreated to the locker room down 3-0 after 45 minutes.
Ethan Bartlow replaced Erik Sviatchenko for the second half. The Dane missed last week’s match with an injury and being down three goals, it made sense to get him off after 45 minutes.
Houston thought they had a goal in the 61st minute, the fireworks even went off at Shell Energy Stadium. It wasn’t to be though as the offside flag went up on Ezequiel Ponce, negating his header. A few minutes later, Amine Bassi had a go that was deflected and looped toward goal. Miami keeper Oscar Ustari punched it over as he was crashed into by Ponce, and a foul was called.
Miami finished the rout off in the 79th minute when Suarez found a goal of his own to go with his three assists. The Uruguayan received a short pass from substitute David Ruiz and turned toward goal. He took three Dynamo defenders on the dribble and then roofed Miami’s fourth goal of the evening.
The Dynamo found a consolation in the 85th minute thanks to two of their substitutes. Erik Dueñas threaded a ball into the box for Nicolas Lodeiro to run onto. Lodeiro finished well to grab his first goal in orange and spoil the shutout for Miami.
The final whistle mercilessly blew to end the match 4-1 in favor of Inter Miami. The defeat is the second in two matches for Houston, both at home. They now have their first road test of the season next weekend against the Columbus Crew. To say things don’t get any easier would be an understatement. Two losses isn’t a death knell by any means but Houston needs to turn things around as soon as possible.
