Houston Dynamo FC fell 3-0 to Minnesota United FC
HOUSTON (Wednesday, July 12, 2023) – Houston Dynamo FC fell 3-0 to Minnesota United FC at Shell Energy Stadium tonight for the team’s second loss at home this year. The Dynamo are now 9-2-2 at Shell Energy Stadium this year in all competitions.
Minnesota took the lead in the 15th minute following a cross from DJ Taylor that was initially punched away by Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark. The Loons recovered the ball just outside the box and Bongokuhle Hlongwane created space for a shot near the penalty spot for the opening goal of the game.
The Loons doubled their lead in the 20th minute following a breakaway run from Teemu Pukki. He found the bottom corner of the far post for his first goal of the season.
Minnesota netted a third goal in the 87th minute when Ménder García found Hlongwane open in the left side of the penalty box. Clark saved the initial attempt, but Ismael Tajouri-Shradi tapped the rebound into the back of the open net.
Dynamo captain Héctor Herrera generated the first shot on target in the sixth minute after he recovered the ball outside the defensive third. The midfielder found forward Aliyu Ibrahim in space, and the 21-year-old forced a save from Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
Dynamo forward Amine Bassi played a first-touch volley into the box for Ibrahim, but his effort just missed the inside of the far post in the 18th minute.
Ibrahim forced a save in the 43rd minute following a clearance from the Loons backline. The forward scored his first goal of the regular season on Saturday in the 2-2 draw with Sporting Kansas City at home.
In the second minute of first half stoppage time, defender Daniel Steres came up with a key block in front of goal after Hassani Dotson managed a strong strike from the top of the box to keep the Minnesota lead at two heading into halftime.
Dynamo midfielder Artur forced a save at the 52nd minute at the far post. Herrera brought a ball down outside the box and laid it off to his teammate for the fourth shot on target of the game. Houston knocked on the door moments later off a cross from Franco Escobar that found Ibrahim at the far post, but his first touch sent the ball out of play.
Ibrahim forced a save in the 55th minute at the near post, the first of three dangerous instances for the Dynamo in the final third. Houston was able to get the ball inside the penalty area for a sequence of shots, but the danger was ultimately cleared by the Minnesota backline. Steres was in a prime position near the penalty spot to pull a goal back in the 58th minute, but his effort was off target.
Defender Micael got on the end of a free kick at full stretch in the 65th minute, but his effort went out of play.
A well-time sliding tackle from Escobar at the top of the penalty box in the 77th minute prevented a break on goal from Hlongwane to keep Houston in the match.
Houston nearly scored their first goal of the night in the 90th minute when Herrera found forward Thor Úlfarsson at the top of the six-yard box. The 22-year-old’s glancing touch went just right of the post.
Another chance came in the 96th minute when Ethan Bartlow created his own space to the right of the penalty box. The defender whipped in a dangerous ball to the head of forward Iván Franco, but his attempt fell into the arms of St. Clair.
With the final touch of the match, Bassi hit the crossbar with a a strong strike from outside of the penalty box.
Houston next travels to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, July 15, for the first time this season, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT. That will be the team’s final league match before kicking off Leagues Cup play at Orlando City SC on Friday, July 21.
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