Scoreless streak continues but Dynamo pick up point in 0-0 draw
(image via Aldo Canale)
After two straight losses, the Houston Dynamo returned to Shell Energy Stadium, trying to regain some form. St. Louis CITY SC, who the Dynamo eliminated in the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this year, were the opposition on a warm, cloudy Saturday night. The two teams went back and forth all night but neither side could find a goal as the game ended 0-0.
The Dynamo got the action going in the 9th minute when Aliyu Ibrahim tried a shot from outside the box. His effort was fairly tame and right at St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Burki. The high press of St. Louis led to their first chance in the 19th minute. The away side won the ball on the edge of their own box but Joao Klauss fired wide of goal.
Hector Herrera, who made his first start of the season, looked lively as he tried to energize the Dynamo offense. Amine Bassi teed up the captain in the 24th minute but his shot went well high. Just a minute later, St. Louis countered as a ball went all the way through to Thomas Totland. The outside back tested Steve Clark but stung the Dynamo goalkeeper’s gloves.
Houston kept attacking late in the first half. Bassi shot high in the 30th minute. He then chipped Herrera in on goal in the 37th minute but the Mexican’s acrobatic effort was smothered by Burki. The best chance of the night came right at the end of the half. In the 45th minute, a corner from Bassi found the head of defender Daniel Steres but his shot hit the post.
The second half kicked off with the score 0-0 and Herrera replaced by Latif Blessing. The best chance for St. Louis came in the 56th minute. A ball in the box fell to Klauss at close range but the Brazilian missed the target. It was the kind of chance St. Louis was looking for and it fell to their goal scorer, but he couldn’t convert.
Sebas Ferreira came on in the 80th minute for the Dynamo as Houston pressed to find a winner. Steres nearly played the unlikely hero again when he unleashed a missile in the 83rd minute. Burki lept high to tip the ball up and over, showing why he was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023. From the ensuing corner, the ball was cycled to the back post where Tate Schmitt, filling in for the suspended Griffin Dorsey, was there on the doorstep but he too fired wide.
The Dynamo couldn’t find a goal, once again, as their scoreless streak reached three games. Three straight shut outs is…not good. On the bright side, a clean sheet and a point could be a small thing to build off of. Houston has a quick turnaround as they enter the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this week. The Dynamo will host USL Championship side Detroit City FC on Tuesday night at Shell Energy Stadium.
