Rotated and Reeling: Dynamo Drop Another in Leagues Cup
(image via Aldo Canale)
The Houston Dynamo were back at Shell Energy Stadium on Friday night for their second Leagues Cup match. They welcomed Mazatlan FC, from Liga MX, looking to rebound from Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat to Tigres.
As expected, Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen rotated the lineup heavily. Goalkeeper Pedro Cruz got his first senior start. Daniel Steres returned to the field after a long time not playing, and many other changes were made to give players minutes who have not gotten many during this 2025 season.
The Dynamo knew their chances of advancing were all but ended, even before this match kicked off, but they still wanted to come out and get a result to help springboard them into the stretch run of the Major League Soccer season.
Mazatlan, who came into the match with two points after beating LAFC in a penalty shootout on Tuesday, came out on the front foot and got the game’s first goal in the 25th minute. The visitors won a corner that Nicolas Benedetti whipped into the box. Defender Facundo Almada rose to get his head on it and powered his shot past Cruz to put Mazatlan ahead 1-0.
Almada nearly had his and his team’s second goal of the match in the 41st minute. He once again got to the ball first and sent a header on target. Cruz did well, diving back and to his right, to push the ball away just as it got to the goal line.
Houston’s best chance came in the first minute of first half stoppage time. A set piece into the box was won by Femi Awodesu and he pivoted and fired a shot with his left foot. The ball rose and came out off the cross bar. Erik Dueñas got the rebound and volleyed it on goal, but Mazatlan goalkeeper Daniel Gutierrez did well to dive and make a save.
Unfortunately for the Dynamo, the second half played out similar to the first. Mazatlan got their second goal after another miscue. Sebastian Kowalczyk took a poor touch with the Dynamo in possession and Benedetti spring Fabio Gomes on a fast break. The Brazilian striker held off Awodesu and slid his shot in off the post to make the score 2-0 in the 57th minute.
Olsen brought on Jack McGlynn, Lawrence Ennali, and Ezequiel Ponce to try and sprak the offense and get Houston back into the game. The Dynamo did get more sharp in the final third with forays into the Mazatlan box but as has been the story at times this season, they just could not find the final product.
A goal in each half, and a clean sheet, were more than enough for Mazatlan to pick up the win by a score of 2-0. The victory now gives them five points and puts them in a great position to advance with a result in their final match. The Dynamo have zero points from two games and while it is not official just yet, they are all but eliminated from Leagues Cup.
The Dynamo will finish up Leagues Cup play on Tuesday when they welcome Pachuca to Shell Energy Stadium. With nothing left to play for in this tournament, this will be another chance for Houston to try and ready themselves for a return to MLS play and a fight for a playoff spot.
