Houston Dynamo FC defeated the Seattle Sounders by a final score of 2-1 at PNC Stadium on Saturday night.Â
In their matchup with the team atop the Western Conference table, the Dynamo were the first team to strike. Houston earned a free kick from the top of the 18-yard-box after a Joao Paulo foul in the 14th minute. Midfielder Darwin Quintero directed his teammates into position before curling a free kick onto the foot of forward Maxi Urruti, who smashed a side volley the ball past the keeper. Â
The goal was Urruti’s first since June 26, when he scored the lone Dynamo goal in a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake.Â
Houston’s success continued throughout the first half. Six minutes later, Quintero took the scoring responsibilities into his own hands after receiving a pass from midfielder Griffin Dorsey. Quintero made a great move to flick the ball over the head of a Seattle defender before knifing his way through two more defenders in the box to open up enough space to get a shot off and tuck it into the net. It was the first time this season that Quintero has recorded both a goal and an assist.Â
Seattle broke through in the 41st minute, when a ricocheted corner kick fell to the feet of Jimmy Medranda, who squared up a took a shot from outside of the 18-yard-box that goalkeeper Michael Nelson could not stop. Medranda’s goal cut the Houston lead to one goal.Â
Quintero nearly doubled his goal total in the 50th minute, when a leaping header from forward Fafa Picault fell to the Colombian midfielder as he neared the goal. The pass was behind him, and Quintero deftly turned around and shot a bicycle kick that hit the cross bar.Â
Seattle nearly tied the game up in the 59th minute, when forward Will Bruin found midfielder Fredy Montero in scoring position with a cross. Nelson, however, was able to black the shot before leaping forward to cover up the ball and avert the danger. Â
The Dynamo will play at home once again on Wednesday night when they welcome the LA Galaxy to PNC Stadium. For tickets to that game visit https://www.houstondynamofc.com/tickets/.