Steres bags late winner for Dynamo in San Jose
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
Even on the road, a match against the last place team in the league is one that should be looked at as three points. The Dynamo had that in front of them Wednesday night as they visited the bottom-of-the-table San Jose Earthquakes.
Houston came out on the front foot, as they usually do, dominating possession and keeping San Jose pinned in their own half. Coco Carrasquilla had a decent look in the 14th minute from the top of the box, but his shot was right at Earthquakes goalkeeper Jacob Jackson.
The Dynamo continued to push forward, controlling the ball in and around the Earthquakes’ box. Sebastian Ferreira had an off balance header bounce wide in the 20th minute. Griffin Dorsey then drove into the box in the 26th minute and tried to beat Jackson at his near post but the Quakes keeper made the save.
Erik Sviatchenko headed a corner wide late in the half, in the 43rd minute. The Dynamo would finish the first half with 12 shots but had no goals to show for their efforts as the teams went into the locker rooms tied 0-0.
San Jose looked to have been given a penalty in the 50th minute when referee Natalie Simon pointed to the spot after Micael seemed to have tripped up Cristian Espinoza. After a short check with VAR at the monitor, Simon waved off the penalty kick.
After an opening spell of good play to begin the half by San Jose, the Dynamo regained control of possession and the flow of the match. Captain Hector Herrera tried a shot from way out in the 66th minute but it was right into the arms of Jackson.
Ben Olsen made moves late, waiting until the 73rd minute to bring on Daniel Steres, and the 75th to introduce McKinze Gaines. The Steres move may have raised some eyebrows but it paid off for Olsen and the Dynamo late on.
Houston pushed to find a winner and it finally came in the 87th minute. Gaines slipped a ball through to Amine Bassi toward the end line. He chipped the ball to the back post where Steres arrived in the box and volleyed the winner home, sending the Dynamo players into celebration (including with new signings Ezequiel Ponce and Lawrence Ennali in the crowd.)
San Jose never really threatened Steve Clark’s goal in the final minutes of the match and the full time whistle blew with the Dynamo picking up three points on the road with a 1-0 victory.
The Dynamo will stay on the West Coast this week as they will now travel to Canada. Houston will take on the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday night. That match will be another kickoff, with the game scheduled to begin at 9:40 PM.
