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Best Dynamo games of the decade

Philadelphia Union v Houston Dynamo: Final - 2018 U.S. Open Cup Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

This decade certainly started off wonderful for Dynamo fans, however seemed to tail off towards the end of the decade. Nevertheless, there were incredible games throughout and as fans of this incredible organization, we were privy to many exciting games. With this decade coming to an end, we narrow it down to our five favorite games of the entire decade.

Honorable Mention:

08/21/2010 Houston Dynamo vs Chicago Fire- Brian Ching hat trick

Ching’s heroics proved necessary as the Dynamo nearly defeated a tough Fire team in exciting 4-3 fashion. This game showed Ching’s incredible play more than anything and the team’s desire to do what was necessary to win a game.

04/14/2013 Houston Dynamo vs Chicago Fire- Dynamo break the MLS home unbeaten streak

The Dynamo would extend this streak some more but Houston was once a feared destination to play. The humidity combined with the atmosphere made Robertson Stadium and later BBVA Compass Stadium one of the best home atmospheres in all of MLS.

05/08/2013 Houston Dynamo vs D.C. United- Dynamo tie record for largest road blowout

The Dynamo traveled to Washington D.C. and put an absolute beatdown on DCU. Led by Will Bruin’s two goals, the Dynamo shut out D.C. and won 4-0.

11/21/2017 Houston Dynamo vs Seattle Sounders- Dynamo set BBVA attendance record

The only Dynamo loss on this list. Yes, the Dynamo lost this game but the atmosphere was incredible. The Dynamo being back in the Conference Finals brought out support from all over the city. Seattle would end up winning this leg 2-0 and eventually advancing to the MLS Cup, but the packed house was reminiscent of the Robertson and early BBVA days.

10/06/2019 Houston Dynamo vs LA Galaxy- Dynamo send Demarcus Beasley off in style

Though the last few Dynamo seasons haven’t been ideal, the final game for Demarcus Beasley was as if it was scripted. The Dynamo pulled off the 4-2 upset over the Galaxy while giving Beasley the standing ovation and send off that he’s deserved.

5. 03/12/2016 Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas

Dynamo set record for largest team blowout.

Cinco a Cero. Cinco a Cero. Cinco a Cero. Being able to bring this score up to any FC Dallas fan at any point is so much fun. The Dynamo were on absolute fire from the very beginning with a David Horst goal in the sixth minute. Not long after, Dallas defender Matt Hedges tries to pass it back to the goalkeeper but instead it trickles into the goal. From that point, it was obvious that this game would be all orange. Ricardo Clark and Andrew Winger would score goals back to back and give the Dynamo a 4-0 lead before the 30th minute. For the rest of the game, there would be nothing but cheering in the stands and trolling on social media until a late goal by Will Bruin gave us our new troll chant: Cinco a Cero.

4. 11/05/2017 Houston Dynamo vs Portland Timbers

Dynamo advance to their first semifinals in the post-Kinnear era

The game that gave us that incredible atmosphere against Seattle was the Semifinal against Portland. After a 0-0 draw at home, the second leg of the semis was in Portland where the Timbers were the overwhelming favorite. After a 39th minute goal by Portland, all hope seemed loss until Dylan Remick scored on a strike from a corner kick right before halftime. The second half was much more aggressive as both teams tried to find the lead goal until Dynamo rising star Mauro Manotas scored the game winner sending Houston to their first semifinal since former coach Dominic Kinnear had departed.

3. 11/12/2012 Houston Dynamo vs D.C. United

Dynamo take commanding lead in the 2012 semifinal

After a disappointing regular season that almost saw the Dynamo miss the playoffs entirely, the team seemed to finally begin to catch its stride. Houston edged out Chicago in the knockout round and then defeated rival and top seed SKC in the semis. This game would be to see if the Dynamo really were good enough to make it back to the MLS Cup and they proved they were. BBVA Compass Stadium was packed and provided the boost the team needed. An early United goal put the Dynamo down at half, but whatever speech Kinnear gave the team was worth it as they came out firing. Andre Hainault, Will Bruin and Kofi Sarkodie all scored goals in the second half giving the Dynamo a strong first leg lead pushing them through to their second consecutive MLS Cup (let’s not talk about what happened in that game).

2. 11/06/2011 Houston Dynamo vs Sporting Kansas City

Dynamo make unsuspecting trip to the MLS Cup over rival

2011 was supposed to be a season of rebuild. The previous season was the first season the Dynamo failed to make the playoffs and building the team back to where it was should’ve taken some time. However, the legendary Dominic Kinnear didn’t need much time as he led the Dynamo to the second best record in the East. Houston was able to win both legs of their semifinal matchup against Philadelphia pitting them against hated rival and #1 seeded Sporting Kansas City. The winner-take-all game in Kansas City was supposed to be too difficult for this team to win, but the Dynamo prevailed on. After a scoreless first half, Andre Hainault headed in a goal from a free kick. An incredible goal that gave the Dynamo a huge lead goal. In the 87th minute, Carlo Costly scored a backbreaking goal off a breakaway sending the Dynamo back to the MLS Cup.

1. 08/08/2018 Houston Dynamo vs LAFC/

09/26/2018 Houston Dynamo vs Philadelphia Union

Dynamo wins exciting US Open Semifinals and Cup Final.

Yes I’m cheating by adding two games but the Semifinal was an incredible game itself followed by the monumental final. The semifinal featured the Dynamo at their best, attacking, applying pressure and stars like Andrew Wenger, Mauro Manotas and Memo Rodriguez all scoring. However it also features what we hate which is giving up a big lead and LAFC’s Diego Rossi trying to win this game by himself scoring a hat trick including the final goal in the final minute. The game eventually went to penalty kicks and after Boniek Garcia gets his shot saved, Joe Willis had to make an incredible save or else their run was over and he did. To top this game off, Willis would make another incredible save and send the team off to their first ever US Open Cup Final.

In the final, the Dynamo didn’t waste any time, Mauro Manotas scored in the fourth minute and the beatdown began. Manotas would increase the Dynamo lead once again in the 25th minute with his patented low strike from outside the box. A Union defender would score the third and final goal for the Orangemen and from then on, it was celebration time as the Dynamo won their first ever Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Trophy and clinched the best game of the 2010s.