Dynamo fall 3-1 to Colorado at home, all but ending their playoff chances

Houston Dynamo FC were hoping a return home and a lengthy stretch of games at BBVA Stadium could jump start their season and kick off a run to a playoff appearance, but unfortunately the Colorado Rapids had other ideas. The guests left town with a 3-1 win and pretty much put a bow on Houston’s 2021 season.

Colorado were all over the Dynamo early on, keeping Houston pinned in their own half, and they got their goal just 5 minutes in when center back Lalas Abubakar headed in Jack Price’s corner kick.

Colorado continued to pressure the Dynamo in the first quarter-hour and Houston struggled to get out of their own half. Michael Barrios headed over from close range after Diego Rubio picked out the wide open winger.

The Dynamo got their first significant attack 19 minutes in. There were some shouts for a penalty as Adalbero Carrasquilla went down in the box but nothing was given. The ball cycled around again and the Panamanian volleyed wide from 18 yards out. Griffin Dorsey came close again as Carrasquilla played him in with a nifty flick but Yarbrough came out to keep the game 1-0 to Colorado.

Colorado carried the 1-0 lead deep in to stoppage time of the first half, but the Dynamo got a life line just before the whistle blew. Michael Barrios clipped Maynor Figueroa on the edge of the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Fafa Picault stepped up and sent Yarbrough the wrong way to tie the game as the teams headed in to the locker room.

The second half opened up well for the Dynamo. Ariel Lassiter came on for Maynor Figueroa at the break as Houston switched to a 4-3-3. In the 53rd minute Maxi Urruti got in behind and Rapids’ goalkeeper William Yarbrough brought down the Argentine striker. The referee pointed to the spot but had a look at the monitor to see if Urruti was offside and if there was a foul. Urruti was judged to be offside and the penalty was taken away.

Right after the penalty was taken away the game really opened up. Andre Shinyashiki picked out Cole Bassett and his diving header caromed off the post. The Dynamo came right back on the other end with Sam Junqua’s shot parried wide of the near post.

Colorado retook the lead in the 60th minute. Canadian international Mark-Anthony Kaye got open on the left side of the box and squared a ball for Michael Barrios to tap in to the empty net. Barrios’ 5th goal of the season gave the Rapids a 2-1 lead.

Zarek Valentin and Joe Corona came on for the Dynamo after 65 minutes and not long after Matias Vera had a golden chance. The Argentine was slipped in 1 on 1 with Yarbrough and the Colorado keeper guessed early to deny Vera from close range. He really had to score there and the Dynamo were left searching for another goal.

Maxi Urruti got his best effort of the night off in the 77th minute when he was able to pivot and shoot from the penalty spot. Unfortunately, it was a very tame effort right in to the arms of Yarbrough.

Colorado put things out of reach with 10 minutes to play. Braian Galvan was given far too much space on the right side of the box and he picked out the far post to beat Marko Maric. The goal made it 3-1 on the night and all the air in BBVA Stadium was let out like that last balloon on the mantle at your birthday party.

The night could be summed up in the 83rd minute when a ball made its way to Ari Lassiter 7 yards from goal. He completely fluffed his shot.

After 90 minutes, the Dynamo suffered their first home loss of the season and by all intents and purposes put a nail in the 2021 campaign. Making the playoffs was always going to be an uphill battle but going almost 3 months without a win is just brutal. To cap things off, the referee had to stop the match for that chant coming from the BBVA stands. Disgraceful. There really isn’t a lot more that can be said. Something needs to be done. Someone needs to be held accountable. For everything.

The Dynamo will head on the road for another mid-week match on Wednesday against Real Salt Lake. The game will kick off at 9:00 PM CT.

Goals:

5’ COL: Lalas Abubakar (assisted by Jack Price)

45+6’ HOU: Fafa Picault (penalty)

60’ COL: Michael Barrios (assisted by Mark-Anthony Kaye)

80’ COL: Braian Galvan

Disciplinary:

24’ COL: Diego Rubio (yellow card)

Lineups:

Houston Dynamo (5-3-2): Marko Marić; Sam Junqua (83’ Mateo Bajamich), Teenage Hadebe, Tim Parker, Maynor Figueroa (46’ Ariel Lassiter), Griffin Dorsey (72’ Memo Rodriguez); Adalberto Carrasquilla, Derrick Jones (65’ Joe Corona), Matías Vera; Fafa Picault (64’ Zarek Valentin), Maxi Urruti

Colorado Rapids (4-2-3-1): William Yarbrough; Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Lalas Abubakar, Auston Trusty; Jack Price (81’ Collen Warner), Mark-Anthony Kaye (84’ Dominique Badji); Diego Rubio (64’ Braian Galvan), Cole Bassett, Michael Barrios (63’ Jonathan Lewis); Andre Shinyashiki (84’ Nicolas Mezquida)