Throwback Thursday: Dynamo lift US Open Cup

(image via Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

The Houston Dynamo host Inter Miami this weekend with both teams searching for their first win of the season. Let’s throwback to a previous match between the two sides. Is there really any other match we can look back on that’s not the 2023 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Final?

Background

The Houston Dynamo were having a spectacular regular season under Ben Olsen up to this point. Hector Herrera was looking like an MVP candidate with lots of other new additions coming into their own as the season progressed. The Dynamo were coming off some gigantic wins against the Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Real Salt Lake in the semifinals of the Open Cup. However, the Dynamo were just coming off one of their worst losses of the season, losing to Sporting Kansas City who were down to ten men for 60 minutes of the game. Even then, the Dynamo still were in bright form heading into this final.

Miami were coming off an even bigger high, lifting the Leagues Cup trophy just weeks before this game. Lionel Messi mania was in full swing with him just entering the league prior to their Leagues Cup campaign. They were in such great attacking form that they had scored three or more goals in four of their last seven matches. However, Messi picked up an injury in their 4-0 demolition job of Toronto FC making him a serious doubt for the final.

Lineups

First Half

Messi ended up missing the match along with star fullback Jordi Alba. Miami were still not short of talent with superstar midfielder Sergio Busquets, Diego Gomez, and Leo Campana still available to them. The Dynamo kicked off the first half with one of the most dominant halves of soccer in the club’s history. Miami were second to every loose ball and the Dynamo looked in complete control. There were multiple early chances, including a rebound that fell to Corey Baird that he managed to shoot straight at the keeper. Just minutes later, Amine Bassi made a great run and pass to Baird to setup Artur in the final third. He then laid it off to Dorsey for a spectacular opening goal. This goal was everything you love about the Dynamo under Ben Olsen; great passing movement, phenomenal off ball runs, and a brilliant finish to cap off the move. Just ten minutes later, USMNT fullback DeAndre Yedlin took out Nelson Quiñones, who was running through on goal, to draw a penalty. There could have been an argument for a red card as well, but Yedlin got away with the yellow. Bassi slotted the penalty in with ease to give the Dynamo a 2-0 lead.

Second Half

Unfortunately, there was not as much action for the Dynamo in the second half with them playing to keep their lead. It took until stoppage time for another goal to be scored. 2018 MLS MVP Josef Martinez managed to squeak in behind the backline to get one back for Miami and setup a nervy last five minutes of stoppage time. Campana was given a excellent chance to level the game, but he managed to head it right into the path of Andrew Tarbell. The Dynamo held on to win 2-1 and their lift their second Lamar Hunt US Open Cup trophy in five years.

This was a gigantic victory to set the tone for Ben Olsen’s reign as the head coach of the Houston Dynamo. It was also nice to see the Dynamo upset the new golden child of MLS media. Houston then went on to make it all the way to the Western Conference Final where they lost to LAFC in a close match. Fast forward a year and a half and the Dynamo are still looking to contend for trophies like the Open Cup with Olsen at the wheel. Will they win another trophy in 2025 and will they beat Miami once again this Sunday?