Bogusz goal gives Houston Dynamo thrilling win over Portland Timbers
(image via Aldo Canale)
After not playing in the third match week of the season, the Houston Dynamo were back in action at home against the struggling, but dangeous, Portland Timbers on Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston were missing several starting players due to suspension, with Agustin Bouzat and Antônio Carlos out for the game.
Ben Olsen selected Felipe Andrade to replace Carlos in the backline, and Diadié Samassékou slotted into central midfield. Ibrahim Aliyu, who was brought back to the Dynamo earlier this week, featured on the bench alongside 15-year-old prospect Matthew Arana.
Houston settled into their 3-4-3 shape early and looked to control the tempo of the match, clinching several corners in the first few minutes. Portland made that objective difficult and kept Houston on the back foot at times. In the 26th minute, Lawrence Ennali singlehandly stopped a Portland counterattack on the left side after a failed Dynamo corner routine. Ennali had a maximum speed of 22.05 miles-per-hour according to the Houston Dynamo.
Entering the final minutes of the half, Samassékou grabbed Portland defender Finn Surman inside the box. After a lengthy VAR check a penalty was awarded. Jonathan Bond saved the penalty, but Gage Guerra got to the ball to slot in the rebound and give the visitors the 1-0 lead entering halftime.
Houston threw in a wild card to start the second half of play, subbing off striker Ezequiel Ponce for midfielder Hector Herrera. In the 50th minute, Mateusz Bogusz broke through in transition, but his shot inside the box was denied by a closing Portland defender.
In the 62nd minute, and after several calls that the fans disliked, Houston finally got back into the game thanks to newcomer Guilherme, who headed in a right-sided cross from Bogusz to level the game at 1-1.
In the 66th minute, Lucas Halter suffered an injury to his leg and instantly asked for a substitution. Agustin Resch, on a short-term loan from Dynamo 2 ,came in for the injured player, while Ondřej Lingr subbed in for Samassékou.
In the 77th minute, Felipe Andrade gave Houston the 2-1 lead with a long-range effort. Houston were suddenly in control of their own destiny.
Just a few minutes later, Portland equalized with a crispy shot from Kristoffer Velde to the bottom corner to make the game 2-2. Houston shifted to a more offensive look in the final 10 minutes, subbing in Nick Markanich for Duane Holmes to give Houston a true striker in the dying moments of the match.
Markanich didn’t spend too much time on the field, as he got sent off after a dangerous encounter with Portland’s goalkeeper James Pantemis, which meant that for the rest of extra time, Houston would play down a man. Sound familiar?
The Dynamo desperately defended their side of the field after that moment, and Resch delivered a goal-line clearance near the end to keep Portland gasping for the winner. And just when things couldn’t get crazier, Bogusz took advantage of Portland being out of position and scored the winner deep into extra-time, sending the Dynamo fans into a frenzy and securing the three points for the home side with a 3-2 win.
The Houston Dynamo will travel to Frisco, Texas and face off against FC Dallas on Saturday, March 21. Fans can either travel and support the men in orange or watch live on Apple TV.