Houston Dynamo vs Louisville City FC player ratings
(image via Aldo Canale)
It took added extra time, but the Houston Dynamo came from behind to beat Louisville City FC 2-1 to advance to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarterfinals. Let’s take a look at how everyone performed.
Starters
Jimmy Maurer - 6.5
Maurer made one save but his night had to end early after he was clattered into in the first half. He made it to halftime but was replaced by Bond, with a concussion substitution, to start the second half.
Franco Negri - 7
Negri continues to put in good shifts and looks to be Olsen’s preferred option at left back. He completed a staggering 76 passes at a 93% clip.
Antonio Carlos - 7.5
The veteran played all 120 minutes and left it all on the field. He was on the ball a ton, as the Dynamo dominated possession, with 138 touches.
Erik Sviatchenko - 8
Sviatchenko played the hero when he was thrown up front in the dying minutes of the game. Herrera played a perfect ball in and Sviatchenko stretched, with all he had left in his legs, to head in the equalizer.
Duane Holmes - 7.5
Holmes returned to the starting lineup and played really well. He showed pace and the ability to create in space up and down that right side of the field, including winning the penalty.
Aliyu Ibrahim - 7
Aliyu did what he does best and stretched the field all night as Houston controlled the ball. He had five touches in the box, the most for the Dynamo on the night.
Jack McGlynn - 6
The pass to Holmes to draw the penalty was world class. But McGlynn took the penalty and was saved well by Louisville goalkeeper Danny Faundez. McGlynn came off at half time but it’s good to see him getting minutes and getting his fitness back.
Diadie Samassekou - 6.5
Samassekou only missed one pass on the night. Not bad. He was replaced by Artur after an hour but the Mali international put in another solid performance.
Agustin Bouzat - 7
Bouzat was here and there, helping the Dynamo hold the ball and keep their shape. He doesn’t do a lot that gets on to the stat sheet, but Bouzat is key in how Houston plays.
Mateusz Bogusz - 6.5
Bogusz’s form continues to be worrying. He wasn’t bad in this match but you just expect more from him. He did create two chances and had two shots of his own, both off target.
Ondrej Lingr - 7
Lingr got the start after his suspension in league play over the weekend. He managed just one shot but his work rate over 120 minutes was quite impressive.
Substitutes
Jonathan Bond - 6.5
Bond came on at half time. He couldn’t do much on the goal as it slid right across his box to an unmarked attacker.
Lawrence Ennali - 7
Ennali’s pace and ability to run at guys is unmatched by anyone on this Houston roster. You just wish his end product, in beating players on the dribble, was better.
Artur - 7.5
Artur came off the bench but still played over an hour. He had a rocket of a shot attempt that looked destined for the top corner until Faundez got a hand on it.
Ezequiel Ponce - 8
Ponce blocked out the critics on this night and got the match-winning goal. Receiving the ball with his back to goal and turning and firing in his shot is a glimpse of what the Argentine does best.
Hector Herrera - 9
What else can you say about Herrera? Class is permanent. He assisted on both Dynamo goals and created eight chances, in just 51 minutes on the field.
Felipe Andrade - 6.5
Andrade was his usual sparkplug self, helping give the Dynamo some fresh legs late in the match.
Agustin Resch - 7.5
Resch played all of the extra time period and his goal line save denied Louisville a late equalizer and preserved the win for the Dynamo.
Head Coach
Ben Olsen - 8
The Open Cup is always tricky for coaches but Olsen played his cards right. You almost never see seven substitutions in a match but the Dynamo had to make them. Now Olsen has to prepare for a visit from the Colorado Rapids this weekend on short rest.
