Depleted Dynamo can’t find equalizer in loss to Inter Miami CF

The Houston Dynamo struggled in a short turnaround following their midweek win over FC Dallas. This time they hit the road and faced a weather delay in a 1-0 loss to expansion side Inter Miami CF. It wasn’t a poor showing, but the team definitely lacked focus and energy which hurt their chances of finding an equalizer following a 57^th minute penalty.

Rain was the largest talking point of all things in the first half which poured down and eventually caused a weather delay. On the field, it was the expansion side Inter Miami that looked in control with the possession largely being the home side’s advantage. Although Miami looked more threatening, they weren’t able to break through the Dynamo defense.

In his return to the starting lineup and action in a few games, Memo Rodríguez tried to put Houston up on the road with a solo effort. After juking passed his defender, Memo lined up a shot with his left boot which curled towards the back corner of the goal and only just missed the crossbar.

Miami looked to have a great chance on goal as an excellent pass into Lewis Morgan saw a nice give and go interchange between him and Gonzalo Higuaín which put Morgan in on goal. A long range effort was pushed out by Marko Marić for a corner kick.

After play resumed following the weather delay, it was more of the same. Miami in control of the possession with extended minutes in the Dynamo half of the field with Houston largely content to sit back and counter attack.

The Dynamo came close to getting the opener after the 40^th minute following a corner kick. The play on the kicked was cleared, but Houston regained possession. Memo Rodríguez played the ball out wide to Zarek Valentin who put the ball into the box and Kiki Struna tried to redirect it into the goal, but it went wide.

Just before halftime the Dynamo did get a bit more possession in Miami’s final third, largely due to continuing to regain the ball after set pieces. There were some dangerous plays and a few coming on the counter, but the final effort just wasn’t there.

Houston did well early in the second half to possess and look threatening in the final third of the field, but Miami struck back and nearly found the goal if it wasn’t for the heroics of Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Marić. Brek Shea found Blaise Matuídí who crossed the ball into Gonzalo Higuaín. The first timed effort was somehow saved by Marić.

Although the half started with Houston and Marić in control, Miami would get the opener. Following a set piece, Kiki Struna clearly held a player in the box which brought him down. Lewis Morgan stepped up to take the kick and sent Marić the wrong way. 1-0 Miami.

With the clock ticking on, the Dynamo showed flashes of quality opportunities, but the final effort was lacking. Miami continued to possess the ball well and controlled the game with their lead very well going into the 80^th minute.

The final whistle would blow and Inter Miami would take the 1-0 win. The Dynamo looked steady enough to take a 0-0 draw, but they didn’t look as engaged physically or mentally especially after Miami’s opener. There were moments that looked like the team was clicking on offense, and the defense was mostly up to the task as it took a penalty to get Miami on the score sheet, but the team did not transition the ball that quickly and they sat in deep defensively.

Next up for the Dynamo is Nashville SC next Wednesday on October 14^th at 7:00 PM CT.

Goals:

57’ MIA: Lewis Morgan (penalty kick)

Disciplinary:

37’ HOU: Darwin Quintero (yellow card)

Lineups:

Houston Dynamo (4-3-3): Marko Marić; Adam Lundqvist, Kiki Struna, Kiki Struna, Zarek Valentin; Adam Lunqvist, Memo Rodríguez (84’ Sam Junqua), Matías Vera, Darwin Cerén; Darwin Quintero, Christian Ramirez, Ariel Lassiter (81’ Niko Hansen)

Inter Miami CF (3-4-2-1): John McCarthy; Leandro González Pirez, Nicolás Figal, A.J. DeLaGarza; Brek Shea (83’ Ben Sweat), Blaise Matuídí (84’ Jay Chapman), Wil Trapp, Dylan Nealis; Matías Pellegrini (90’ Julán Carranza), Lewis Morgan (76’ Victor Ulloa); Gonzalo Higuaín(90’ Robbie Robinson)