Dynamo Held to 1-1 Draw in MLS Return
(image via Aldo Canale)
The Houston Dynamo made their return to Major League Soccer action after the World Cup break, hosting D.C. United at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday night. Houston looked to take advantage of some home cooking with temperatures over 100 degrees for most of the afternoon in the Bayou City.
Defender Lucas Halter returned from injury to partner rookie Agustin Resch at center back in the starting eleven. Veteran Hector Herrera got the start in midfield and new signing Duncan McGuire made his regular season debut for the club, starting at the front of the Dynamo attack.
D.C. came into this match with the lowest possession percentage in all of MLS, the only team with less than Houston, and they were content with letting the Dynamo hold onto the ball for long spells. The Dynamo were on the front foot for the majority of the first half but didn’t have anything to show for it.
With five minutes left in the half, Houston found the break through. Jack McGlynn whipped a free kick in from the left side and it was headed away by the D.C. defense. However, it only went as far as Herrera at the top of the box. The Mexican took a shot and then fired low to the near post, beating United goalkeeper Sean Johnson, to give the Dynamo the 1-0 lead in the 40th minute.
The second half was more of the Dynamo on the ball, with D.C. looking to hit on counters. McGuire was replaced after 59 minutes by Ezequiel Ponce, bringing an end to a promising debut that saw the young striker working well to run behind the United defense and create opportunities. Moments later, Halter blocked a shot with his head and had to come out for a concussion substitution, replaced by Erik Sviatchenko.
The Dynamo couldn’t find a second goal and it came back to bite them. A long throw in to the box wasn’t dealt with and the ball found its way across goal to new signing Nathan Ordaz. He headed the ball back across goal for United’s leading scorer, Tai Baribo, who was there to beat Jonathan Bond to grab an equalizer for D.C. and make the game 1-1.
Neither side could find a winner and the points were shared after a 1-1 draw. Any points dropped at home is a disappointment and this match is now different with the Dynamo failing to grab a crucial extra two points with a win, in a game they led until the final 15 minutes.
The Dynamo will return to Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, welcoming in-state rival Austin FC to Shell Energy Stadium. This will be the second meeting of 2026 between the two clubs with Austin winning in the state capital back in April.
