Dynamo battle back in second half for 2-2 draw in Austin
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo returned to Major League Soccer play on Saturday night as they took the short trip to take on in-state rival Austin FC. Houston was looking to shake off their Leagues Cup performance where they ended with three losses from their three matches.
Austin came into this match up rested, having not participated in Leagues Cup this year. They definitely looked the fresher side in the first half and showed no signs of rest. The home side stayed compact in their shape and stifled the Dynamo.
It took half an hour but Austin got the game’s opening goal. A corner was swung in from the right and captain Ilie Sanchez ran into the box unmarked. His free header was well saved by Jonathan Bond but the rebound came right back to Sanchez and he tucked it away to put Austin ahead 1-0 in the 31st minute.
Austin doubled their lead 10 minutes later. Osman Bukari danced and wiggled himself free on the right side of the box and pinged a ball across ball. An Austin player was again left unmarked, this time Guilherme Biro, and he headed past Bond to make the score 2-0 after 41 minutes.
Antonio Carlos came on for his Dynamo debut at halftime, replacing Ethan Bartlow at center back. With a two goal lead, Austin looked very comfortable as the second half played on.
Both teams had some half chances in the second half of play, but nothing too dangerous. A good chance for Houston came in the 73rd minute when Griffin Dorsey picked out Ondrej Lingr at the near post and his flick forced a save out of Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
What seemed to be a normal looking corner after the previous play turned into a potential turning point. Referee Alexis Da Silva was called to the monitor by VAR and had a long look at a potential foul by Robert Taylor on Pablo Ortiz. After a lenghty review the penalty was given. Jack McGlynn sent Stuver the wrong way and the Dynamo had a goal back in the 80th minute.
Houston pushed for an equalizer and came agonizingly close in the 88th minute. McGlynn found substitute Sebastian Kowalczyk right on the doorstep but the Polish attacker couldn’t get his shot on target. Just a minute later, McGlynn took matters into his own hands.
The Dynamo broke on the attack again and another substitute, Lawrence Ennali, pulled the ball back to the top of the box for a late arriving run of McGlynn. He took a one-time shot with his left foot and it deflected into the back of the net to tie the match at 2-2 in the 89th minute.
With nine minutes of stoppage time, a winner for either team looked like a possibility. Kowalczyk slid a ball in front of goal in the ninth minute of stoppage but no Dynamo player was there to direct it on goal. Austin had a dangerous free kick with the final kick of the match but Dani Pereira skied it into the crowd. The full time whistle blew on a 2-2 result.
The Dynamo battled back from a two goal second half deficit and picked up a valuable point. They need wins and three points but showing the resolve to fight back in this match could spur them on. Houston faces a tough road test next weekend as they head to Vancouver to take on the Whitecaps on Sunday night soccer.
