The Houston Dynamo fell to Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 tonight at BBVA Stadium after a goal from Sounders forward Jordan Morris in the 59th minute.
Morris capitalized on a scramble near the six-yard box for the eventual game-winner. After the initial service into the area was mishit, Morris and Dynamo defender A.J. DeLaGarza dueled midair for the second ball and DeLaGarza flipped over in midair after being undercut by Morris. The Seattle forward was able to then flick the ball past another defender and create space for a shot that rolled past Tyler Deric and inside the far post.
The result belied the performance on the field, as the Dynamo dominated the ball with nearly 60 percent possession and outshot Seattle 15-7. Morris’ goal was Seattle’s only shot on goal, as Houston’s back line largely contained a normally potent Sounders attack.
Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas sparked the first opportunity for Houston in the 12th minute when he stole the ball from Roman Torres near midfield. The Colombian forward dribbled past several Sounders defenders into the box and created space for a shot, nearly replicating his wondergoal from a week earlier in Toronto, but his effort was saved by Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei at the near post.
Seattle midfielder Harry Shipp entered the game in the 30th minute for defender Brad Smith, and six minutes later he was at the door of Houston’s goal. Midfielder Cristian Roldan found Shipp unmarked near the penalty spot but his effort went wide of the near post.
Houston answered with a golden chance of their own three minutes later when defender Adam Lundkvsit found Manotas inside the box with a low cross, but Manotas put his sliding effort over the crossbar. Two minutes later, midfielder Tomás MartÃnez forced a save from Frei with a shot from outside the box to the near post.
Things settled down a bit in the second half, as the pace of the game slowed a bit and Seattle put more numbers behind the ball. Houston’s first opportunity of the second half came when Manotas found midfielder Tommy McNamara inside the penalty area in the 53rd minute, but his effort went wide of the near post.
McNamara nearly found himself in the right place at the right time later when a cross intended for Manotas was deflected and ricocheted off of McNamara, but the midfielder wasn’t able to corral it in time to put a shot on target.
After six road matches in the last month, including three midweek contests in the last four weeks, the Dynamo enjoy a full week of rest before hosting the Chicago Fire at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3 for Military Appreciation Night presented by Houston Audi Dealers.
