Houston Dynamo extend winless streak in loss to Minnesota United FC

Houston Dynamo FC were hoping to break their winless streak with Minnesota United FC coming to BBVA Stadium. The Dynamo were without their Head Coach Tab Ramos so it was Omid Namazi in control and unfortunately the Dynamo were unable to come away with any points in the 2-1 loss. Despite controlling possession well and being able to get the ball into Minnesota’s half, the Loons’ defense was able to make it frustrating for Houston to break through.

The Dynamo opened the game with lightning speed. Coco Carrasquilla won the ball in a good spot by heading the ball out wide to Fafà Picault. Picault dribbled down towards the end line and played the ball inside to Coco who one touched the ball into the net scoring his first Dynamo goal within the first minute.

As the game played on the Dynamo did well to get the ball into wide spaces and control the game after getting the early lead. Minnesota was mostly limited to playing on the counter and taking advantage of errant passes, but Houston was also winning the ball in the midfield and transitioning quickly.

Minnesota played their way back into the game as Houston began to sit a little deeper with their shape which allowed the Loons to increase their possession in the Dynamo’s half of the field. Minnesota would equalize on a set piece opportunity as the ball was played long to Ethan Finlay. Finlay played the ball across goal to Adrien Hunou who buried the tap in with Dynamo defenders getting caught ball watching.

Coco Carrasquilla tried to put the home side up a minute after the equalizer as Maxi Urruti fed him the ball in the middle of the field. After taking a few touches he tried his luck from outside the 18 yard box, but he pulled his shot wide.

Picault nearly put the Dynamo up just after the 30^th minute. A good switch of play had Picault with some space at the top of the 18 yard box. Instead of playing the ball to Urruti’s overlapping run he took a touch to open himself up and had a go himself, but unfortunately struck the upper 90 crossbar.

The two sides would go into halftime locked at a goal apiece. Houston was the team that looked more in control with them finding space out wide and through the middle, but finishing remained difficult despite the quality chances.

Minnesota started the second half by pinning the Dynamo in their own half, but Houston was able to not concede and play their way into increasing their possession. However, Minnesota did well to prevent Houston from getting quality looks in the final third of the field.

As the game ticked on, the Loons made the middle of the field very compact which made it difficult for the Dynamo to break them down forcing them to play out wide. Minnesota was largely content to counter attack following poor passing by Houston.

The visitors would take the lead in the 73^rd minute following a throw in. Some quality combination play including a back heel pass saw Ethan Finlay put Hunou in for his second goal of the night.

Tyler Pasher helped inject some life into the Dynamo offense that had been lacking some of the creativity his runs and passing bring. In the 85^th minute Picault made a dangerous run down the end line and picked out Pasher, but Pasher was unable to control it.

As the game came down to the wire, Minnesota was content on sitting deeper and simply clearing the ball back to the Dynamo. Houston threw numbers forward, but couldn’t break down a very disciplined defense. The whistle would blow after 90 minutes and Houston would drop points again. It was a decent effort, but mistakes were capitalized by the visitors and the Dynamo struggled to break through the Minnesota back line.

The next game for the Dynamo is on Friday September 3^rd at 7:00 PM CT when the Dynamo host the Portland Timbers.

Goals:

1’ HOU: Adalberto Carrasquilla (assisted by Fafà Picault)

16’ MIN: Adrien Hunou (assisted by Ethan Finlay)

73’ MIN: Adrien Hunou (assisted by Ethan Finlay)

Disciplinary:

61’ HOU: Griffin Dorsey (yellow card)

73’ HOU: Teenage Hadebe (yellow card)

77’ HOU: Zarek Valentin (yellow card)

Lineups:

Houston Dynamo (4-1-2-3): Michael Nelson; Adam Lundkvist (78’ Memo Rodríguez), Teenage Hadebe, Tim Parker, Zarek Valentin; Darwin Cerén (29’ Oscar Boniek García); Matías Vera (79’ Joe Corona), Adalberto Carrasquilla (69’ Ariel Lassiter); Griffin Dorsey (69’ Tyler Pasher), Maxi Urruti, Fafà Picault

Minnesota United FC (4-3-3): Tyler Miller; Chase Gasper, Brent Kallman, Michael Boxall, Romain Métanire; Jacori Hayes (59’ Fanendo Adi), Osvaldo Alonso, Wil Trapp; Hassani Dotson, Adrien Hunou (79’ Jukka Raitala), Ethan Finlay