Valiant Dynamo fall in penalty kicks to Sounders
(image via Major League Soccer)
The Houston Dynamo began their 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs in a place they’ve never won, Seattle’s Lumen Field. Game 1 of the best-of-three series between the number four seed Sounders and five seed Dynamo was always going to be a defensive battle. Monday night’s opening contest between the two teams proved that, and then some.
Ben Olsen had a first choice eleven with captain Hector Herrera leading the way. Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer was forced to make a change after midfielder Obed Vargas was sent off on Decision Day. Veteran Joao Paulo slotted into an already strong defensive lineup for Seattle.
Goalkeeper Steve Clark was called into action early, after six minutes. Seattle right back Alex Roldan fired off a shot that Clark had to leap to parry away. The Dynamo began to settle in the game and started to find their footing as the first half played on.
A Hector Herrera free kick found the head of Griffin Dorsey in the 20th minute but the defender’s header looped over the goal. Four minutes later some good attacking play from Houston eventually led to a shot from Artur, but it too went high.
Both defenses kept any attacks at bay and the first half ended scoreless. The teams came out for the second half and cranked up the defense and the intensity even more. Arguably too much if you’re a Dynamo fan.
Herrera saw yellow in the 55th after stepping on the foot of substitute Raul Ruidiaz, who replaced a hobbling Jordan Morris earlier in the half. Herrera then made a vital block in the six yard box to deny a shot from Yeimar.
The match took a turn in the 62nd minute after Joao Paulo was booked for a tactical foul on Houston striker Ezequiel Ponce. Something happened off camera between Jackson Ragen and Coco Carrasquilla that set the Panamanian off. Both players were shown yellow in the pushing and shoving that followed but referee Ted Unkel was called to the monitor by VAR. Unkel changed the call and gave Carrasquilla a red card for violent conduct and forcing the Dynamo to finish the match with ten men.
Seattle pushed with the man advantage, desperate for the one goal that would get them over the line for a game one victory. The Sounders controlled the possession and wouldn’t let the Dynamo out of their half of the field. They couldn’t create a breakthrough in the 90 minutes of regulation and 12 minutes of added time were tacked on. Seattle looked to have their breakthrough as Unkel awarded the Sounders a penalty in the 9th minute of stoppage time. Unkel was called to the screen after some time and after a lenghty review, he waved the penalty off. The ball came off the chest of Dynamo defender Micael.
The remaining stoppage time ran out with Seattle unable to mount an attack on goal and game one headed to penalty kicks to decide a winner. The first six shooters all scored, setting the stage at 3-3 with two rounds to go. Dynamo defender Erik Sviatchenko then missed his shot wide. The Roldan brothers each scored for Seattle to make the Sounders a perfect five for five in the shootout and give them the win and a 1-0 series lead.
Houston will return home for Game Two on Sunday at Shell Energy Stadium, needing to win to keep their season alive. Even down a man, this match felt like it was their chance. A chance to finally get a win in Seattle, even if on penalties, and take a lead back home. It wasn’t mean to be and now the Dynamo will battle for their lives at the Shell.
