Houston Dynamo FC were unable to convert a statistical edge into goals as they dropped a 3-1 result to the Colorado Rapids at BBVA Stadium tonight.
Houston held the advantage in nearly every category, outshooting Colorado 25-15, including 15 shots inside the penalty area and 10 shots on goal, completed more passes and had more than 54 percent of possession, but were unable to find the final ball on the evening.
Colorado struck first off of a headed goal from defender Lalas Abubakar in the fifth minute. The goal came from a corner kick that found Abubakar in a sea of bodies, and his effort bounced across the line.
The Dynamo equalized in first-half stoppage time through a penalty kick from forward Fafa Picault. Defender Maynor Figueroa drew the penalty when he was bundled over by Colorado forward Michael Barrios inside the area. Picault stepped to the spot and calmly buried his effort in the lower left corner of the net.
Houston looked to have earned a second penalty in the 52nd minute when Yarbrough took down forward Maxi Urruti in the penalty area, but after video review referee Rosendo Mendoza ruled that Urruti had been slightly offside when the pass to him was played.
Barrios gave Colorado back the lead in the 60th minute when he raced into the penalty area and tapped in a centering pass from midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye. Braian Galván made it 3-1 in the 80th minute with a bending left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area.
The Dynamo threatened to pull one back in the 83rd as the ball fell to forward Ariel Lassiter at the six-yard box, but he couldn’t quite get his foot around the ball on a volley, sending it just wide of goal. Three minutes later, midfielder Memo Rodriguez picked up the ball near midfield and dribbled through a slew of Rapids players to get into a shooting position, but his shot was deflected out for a corner kick.
Rodriguez snapped a shot on target in stoppage time, forcing another save from Yarbrough. Midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla, making his first start for the Club, sent a curling shot just over the bar moments later. The Dynamo continued to press for a second goal late on, as Lassiter turned and fired on target from inside the area.
The Dynamo hit the road for a midweek match at Real Salt Lake before returning home next Saturday to host their in-state rivals FC Dallas.
