Houston Dynamo FC earned a point in a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles FC at BBVA Stadium this afternoon.
Dynamo forward Tyler Pasher scored the equalizer and his first MLS goal in the 57th minute. Houston forward Fafa Picault found Pasher between two LAFC defenders inside the box and the Canadian winger tapped the ball past the LAFC shot stopper. Pasher has now contributed to three of the four goals scored by Houston this season.
LAFC got on the board in the 55th minute when forward Corey Baird got on the end of a pass from midfielder Latif Blessing outside the six yard box.
Dynamo forward Maxi Urruti had one of Houston’s best chances in the first half when Dynamo midfielder Memo Rodriguez fed him a corner in the 17th minute. Urruti, surrounded by three LAFC defenders, tried to slot in a ball from the back post but couldn’t find the back of the net. A minute later, Rodriguez himself took a chance from outside the box, ripping a left-footed shot inches off from the right side of the goal.
In the 42nd minute, Dynamo midfielder Joe Corona’s right-footed effort from the edge of the box forced the first of three saves from LAFC goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega. That save led to the Dynamo’s seventh corner-kick of the first half. Houston had a second chance from the corner kick when Dynamo defender Tim Parker headed a ball that ended up going over the crossbar.
Los Angeles’ first opportunity came in the eighth minute after a ball was filtered into the box that found Los Angeles forward Diego Rossi, who’s shot was blocked by Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Maric. Four minutes later, LAFC midfielder Eduard Atuesta fed Rossi a through-ball between the Houston defensive line to give the Uruguayan a prime opportunity in front of Maric, who made a heroic save with his left hand, stopping the ball from going into goal. The Dynamo shot stopper finished with three saves and raised $1,500 through the Every Save Makes a Difference program.
The Dynamo will travel to Frisco, Texas next Saturday for the first leg of the Texas Derby with FC Dallas. Houston returns to BBVA Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 12 to host Sporting Kansas City.
