Dynamo Open season with a Draw against Galaxy

For Immediate Release

Yesterday (Saturday, February 29th) The Houston Dynamo opened their 15th season with a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy in front of a sold-out crowd this afternoon at BBVA Stadium.

Forward Mauro Manotas scored the equalizer for the Dynamo off a through ball from Zarek Valentin in the 54th minute. The Colombian forward shielded the ball away from a Galaxy defender and beat Bingham with a low shot to the far post. The goal was Manotas’ 49th in league play, leaving him one shy of tying Will Bruin for second in Club history with 50.

The Galaxy took the lead in the 13th minute after forward Cristian Pavón collected a long outlet from goalkeeper David Bingham, then dribbled across the top of the box to create space for a perfectly-placed shot in the upper right corner that gave Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Marić little chance at the save.

The Galaxy knocked on the door first as left back Emiliano Insua found forward Aleksandar Katai inside the box in the second minute, but his header bounced off the post. Shortly after the opening goal, Manotas forced a save in the 24th minute with a shot from outside the box for Houston’s first chance of the match.

Manotas and team captain Boniek Garcia combined for a one-two inside the box in the 37th minute, but Garcia’s effort hit the side netting. The duo almost scored the equalizer for Houston six minutes later, but Garcia’s effort was off target.

Both teams had stellar chances to nab the game-winner in the second half, but neither could capitalize. Houston was inches away from taking the lead a few minutes after Manotas’ equalizer when left back Adam Lundkvist’s cross to the far post almost reached midfielder Tommy McNamara. Marić was called into action in the 74th minute when he denied Sebastian Lletget at the near post. The Dynamo shot-stopper finished with two saves in his Major League Soccer debut.

Houston travel to the Midwest next weekend to face Sporting Kansas City at 7:30 p.m. on KUBE 57. The Dynamo return to BBVA Stadium on March 14 to host the reigning MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC.

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Houston Dynamo (0-0-1; 1 pt.)  1-1 LA Galaxy (0-0-1; 1 pt.)

Major League Soccer Regular Season – Week 1

Sunday, Feb. 29, 2020 – BBVA Stadium – Houston, Texas

Attendance: 22,039

SUMMARY

TEAM	1H	2H	FT
Houston Dynamo	0	1	1
Los Angeles Galaxy	1	0	1

LA: Cristian Pavón 1 (David Bingham 1) 13

HOU: Mauro Manotas 1 (Zarek Valentin 1) 54

Houston Dynamo: Marko Marić, Adam Lundkvist, Maynor Figueroa, Aljaz Struna, Zarek Valentin; Matias Vera, Boniek Garcia (C) (Niko Hansen 75), Tomas Martinez (Christian Ramirez 70); Memo Rodriguez (Darwin Cerén 83), Mauro Manotas, Tommy McNamara

Unused substitutes: Cody Cropper, Sam Junqua, Michael Salazar, Alejandro Fuenmayor

Total shots: 15 (Boniek García, Mauro Manotas, Tommy McNamara, Memo Rodriguez 3); Shots on goal: 2 (Mauro Manotas 2); Fouls: 15 (Maynor Figueroa 4); Offside: 1 (Tomás Martínez 1); Corner kicks: 6 (Memo Rodriguez 5); Saves: 2 (Marko Marić 2)

Los Angeles Galaxy: David Bingham; Emiliano Insua, Nick DePuy, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Rolf Feltscher; Perry Kitchen, Aleksandar Katai (Joe Corona 58), Sacha Kljestan; Sebastian Lletget (Emil Cuello 87), Cristian Pavon, Javier Hernandez (C)

Unused substitutes: Daniel Steres, Justin Vom Steeg, Julian Araujo, Ethan Zubak, Gordon Wild

Total shots: 11 (Aleksandar Katai 3); Shots on goal: 3 (Cristian Pavón 2); Fouls: 14 (Sacha Kljestan 4); Offside: 2 (Chicharito 2); Corner kicks: 1 (Cristian Pavón 1); Saves: 1 (David Bingham 1)

  

DISCIPLINE:

 HOU: Boniek García (caution; foul) 49

LA: Aleksandar Katai (caution; foul) 51

OFFICIALS:

Referee: Jair Marrufo

Assistant Referees: Frank Anderson

Assistant Referee: Michael Barwegen

Fourth Official:  Alejandro Mariscal

VAR:  Jose Carlos Rivero