Dynamo done in by red card in defeat to Sounders
(image via Diego Martinez)
The Houston Dynamo came into Saturday night’s match against the Seattle Sounders without a win against the team from the Emerald City since 2021. They have had some close contests in those matches but there seemed to have been some untimely red cards that tipped those matches. And this match turned out to be no different.
Shell Energy Stadium hosed a celebration for the club’s 20th anniversary with a number of former players in attendance to greet fans and remember the origins of the Dynamo. On the field, Daniel Steres replaced the suspended Franco Escobar at center back. Femi Awodesu and Ethan Bartlow were the center back partnership with Erik Sviatchenko out injured.
From the opening kick, the Dynamo looked comfortable going forward. Jack McGlynn had a shot, on his weak foot, right at Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei in the 5th minute. Griffin Dorsey had a header go way from an Artur delivery in the 21st minute.
The away side found the break through, however, a minute later. A long ball from Seattle was missed by Brooklyn Raines and found its way to Paul Rothrock. The winger streaked down the right side and hit a cross in front. The pass took a slight deflection but Danny Musovski made a good run and was able to nod a header in from close range to give Seattle a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute.
Houston would find an equalizer ten minutes later with a header of their own. McGlynn pinged a free kick in from the left, straight at the back post. Awodesu was there on the doorstop to head in off Frei’s shoulder to level the game at 1-1 in the 32nd minute.
Awodesu’s goal was his first with the senior team, giving him a high, but just minutes later he hit a low. Musovski got in on goal alongside Femi and on the edge of the box, the whistle blew. A penalty was called and referee Victor Rivas showed Awodesu a straight red. After a VAR check, the penalty was taken away but the red card stood. The Dynamo would have to play the remainder of the match with ten men.
At half time, Pablo Ortiz came on for Amine Bassi to try and solidify the defense with a man disadvantage but Seattle went back in front less than a minute later. Pedro De La Vega, who came on for the Sounders at the half, drove to the end line and pulled the ball back for Albert Rusnak. He slotted the ball past Jonathan Bond to put Seattle ahead 2-1 in the 46th minute.
Seattle sealed the three points in the 58th minute, grabbing their third goal to put the game to bed. A mazy run into the box by Ryan Kent broke down the Houston defense and he squared to Rusnak. The Sounders midfielder bagged his second the night and Seattle’s third to make it 3-1.
The Dynamo nearly got right back into the match in the 60th minute. Frei made a lunging save back and to his right to pick a Dorsey header out of the air and out of the back of the net. A goal there could have made things interesting but the save seemed to settle the Sounders down to finish the job in Houston.
Recent signing Toyosi Olusanya came on in the 80th minute for the Dynamo, making his debut with the club. Felipe Andrade also made his MLS debut after featuring for the first team midweek in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match.
The final whistle would blow on this match with the Dynamo losing 3-1, and recording a 10th straight match against Seattle without a win. It will be another quick turnaround and another short week for Houston. The Dynamo will host Minnesota United, right back at Shell Energy Stadium, on Wednesday night.
