The Houston Dynamo finished the 2020 season with a tough loss to the Colorado Rapids at BBVA Stadium this evening, 2-1. A late goal from Colorado on the final kick of the match allowed the visitors to escape with a victory.
After a scoreless first half, Colorado opened the scoring in the 61st minute when midfielder Younes Namli dribbled the ball into the box and laid off to Andre Shinyashiki, whose shot was saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Marić. The rebound fell to Namli, who slotted it into the back of the net.
Houston leveled eight minutes later when forward Mauro Manotas and midfielder Darwin Cerén played the ball through the Colorado defense, finding the back of the net when Manotas finished the play with a tap-in. The goal was the 51st of his career with the club, moving him into sole possession of second place on the Dynamo’s all-time scoring list behind Brian Ching at 56.
The Rapids scored the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute when forward Diego Rubio raced on to a ball in behind the Houston defense, dribbled into the area and cut back onto his right foot before firing a low shot into the far corner of the net. The goal came on what was essentially the final kick of the match, as referee Alex Chilowicz blew for full time after the ensuing kickoff.
The Dynamo outshot Colorado 18-12 on the night, marking the 12th time in 23 matches that Houston outshot the opposition. Although the Dynamo finished the year with a 4-10-9 record overall, the squad outshot its opponent in six of its nine draws and in five of the 10 defeats, an indication of how thin the margin was week-to-week.
Tonight’s match concludes the 2020 season for the Dynamo, their 15th in Major League Soccer. The Dynamo will take a break for the offseason before returning for preseason training camp early next year. Dates for preseason camp and the 2021 regular season have not yet been announced.
