The Houston Dynamo saw their six-game unbeaten run come to an end with a 2-1 loss to FC Dallas this evening at Toyota Stadium. A pair of stunning goals in the first half, one from each team, send the game to halftime level before Dallas scored the winner on the hour mark.
FC Dallas struck first in the 29th minute when midfielder Andrés Ricuarte fired a left-footed volley into the upper right corner of the net. The goal was the result of a Dallas free kick, and although the Dynamo cleared the initial service, the second ball found its way to Ricuarte 25 yards out, and he contorted his body to keep the volley underneath the crossbar, leaving Dynamo goalkeeper MarkoMarić no chance.
The Dynamo leveled things in the 41st through a brilliant free kick goal by midfielder Memo Rodriguez. It was Rodriguez’s third goal of the season and the 13th of his career for the Club.
After forward Mauro Manotas drew a foul at the edge of the penalty area, Rodriguez stepped up to the free kick and blasted a laser into the upper right corner. Dallas goalkeeper Kyle Zobeck had a good read on it and dove to try and save it, but could barely get a finger to it due to the pace with which it was truck.
Dallas retook the lead in the 61st minute after a Houston giveaway outside the penalty area. Forward Michael Barrios took advantage of the turnover and flicked a ball over the top of the defense to forward Franco Jara at the six-yard box near the left post. Jara tucked his first touch past Marić and inside the far post to make it 2-1.
Two minutes later a wild scramble inside the FC Dallas penalty area saw a shot from Manotas blocked, a lofted shot from forward Darwin Quintero headed off the line and a shout for a Dynamo penalty waved off, all in the span of less than 10 seconds. Unfortunately for Houston, the ball refused to find its way into the net in the sequence.
Manotas had another excellent look at goal in the 85th minute after an excellent sequence of one-touch passing by the Dynamo. The ball eventually cycled its way to the feet of the Colombian at the top of the penalty area with space for him to fire a right-footed shot on goal. The shot had excellent pace and forced Zobeck to dive low to his right to save it.
Tonight’s match concluded Phase 1 of Major League Soccer’s return to play in club home markets for the Dynamo. Next up for Houston will be a home match with Minnesota United FC on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. CDT. That will be the first professional sporting event in Houston with fans in attendance, as the Dynamo will welcome up to 3,000 fans in a socially-distanced setting.
