The Houston Dynamo advanced to the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 win over Minnesota United FC tonight at BBVA Compass Stadium.
With the win, Houston will host Sporting Kansas City on Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. It will be the fourth consecutive year in which the Dynamo and Sporting meet in the Open Cup, and the fifth meeting overall in the tournament.
After a scoreless first half, the Dynamo got on the board just after the start of the second half. In the 47th minute, defender Adam Lundkvist whipped in an in-swinging corner kick from the right side and found forward Mauro Manotas at the near post, where he flicked a headed shot into the net.
The Dynamo had the first opportunity of the game just after the half-hour mark. Midfielder Eric Bird received a ball from a throw in by Lundkvist on the left side of the field. Bird passed the ball to midfielder Luis Gil, who blasted a right-footed shot from 20 yards out that was parried away by Minnesota goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
Just before the end of the first half, midfielder Memo Rodriguez tried to give the Dynamo a lead going into the locker room. Defender Alejandro Fuenmayor sent a cross from the middle of the field to the left side finding Lundkvist. The Swede quickly fired a cross to the center of the box for Rodriguez, who tried a high shot that went just over the crossbar.
Minnesota had a trio of chances in the last half-hour to level the match. In the 61st minute, forward Darwin Quintero sent a cross to forward Christian Ramirez, but his right-footed attempt was deflected by Dynamo goalkeeper Chris Seitz and out of danger.
Minnesota kept pressing trying to even out the score, but Seitz denied Ramirez one more time in the 73rd minute. Quintero sent another cross to Ramirez to the left post. Ramirez hit the volley, but Seitz dove to smother the ball and maintain the advantage.
The Loons looked ready to level the match late when forward Darwin Quintero stepped to the penalty spot in the 88th minute, but the Colombian winger banged his spot kick effort off the right post. The penalty was awarded by referee Guido Gonzalez when he whistled midfielder Tomás MartÃnez for a foul inside the box.
Next up for the Dynamo is a trip to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, June 23 at Children’s Mercy Park at 7:30 p.m. CDT in a league match that may serve as a preview of the Open Cup matchup. Tickets may be purchased online at HoustonDynamo.com, by phone at 713-276-GOAL, or in person at the BBVA Compass Stadium Box Office, which is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CDT.
