A SCORELESS DRAW WITH SIGNS OF GREAT RESILIENCE

Photo credit: Houston Dynamo FC

Written by Vicente Miale 

SEATTLE – The Houston Dynamo tied its second away game in a row of the season after battling against injuries and the everlasting challenge of the Seattle Sounders. 

 

Ben Olsen’s team arrived in Seattle, where they are yet to win, after the worst start in team history, obtaining one point in four matches. The group looked to overturn an obscure present while missing important players due to injuries and the ongoing international break. 

 Fans at Lumen Field witnessed a scoreless first half where both teams attempted to implement their strategies. Houston’s starting eleven contained a few interesting names. Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer, the transfer from Dallas FC, got his first start in orange due to Andrew Tarbell’s season-ending ACL injury. Junior Urso also started for the first time due to Jack McGlynn’s last-minute call by Mauricio Pochettino to represent the United States Men’s National Team. Olsen and his staff were forced to make the first sub of the match 20 minutes in as defender Daniel Steres replaced Ethan Bartlow after showing minor pain in his right hamstring. 

 The slow pace continued in a second half where neither team could filter passes in the final third. Seattle’s front efforts were being challenged by a Houston low block that denied every Seattle attempt to access the 18-yard box.

 As it has been seen throughout the early season, injuries have had a meaningful impact on Olsen’s squad. Once again, the alarms rang in Houston’s goal as goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer went down with an apparent quad injury 63 minutes into the match. The 22-year-old goalkeeper Blake Gillingham made his debut and recorded a pair of key surprising saves that kept a scoreless match at Lumen Field. Seattle's persistence continued with attacks down the wing, but fullbacks Griffin Dorsey and Daniel Steres managed to remain active in defense without compromising Houston’s defensive structure. 

 A scoreless final in Seattle resulted in back-to-back away draws for Houston and a total of two points in five matches. Ben Olsen and Los Naranjas will visit the Portland Timbers on Sunday, Mar. 30, next weekend as they look to find the first win of the season.