Houston Dynamo FC earned their second positive result at PNC Stadium in four days with a comprehensive 3-1 win over the New England Revolution tonight. The win comes on the heels of a draw with Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night.
Interim head coach Kenny Bundy earned his first victory with the Club and improved to 1-0-1 on the Dynamo touchline.
Forward Fafa Picault tied a career high with two goals in the match, bagging a brace for the sixth time in his MLS career, and forward Darwin Quintero scored his eighth of the year to set a new single-season high with the Dynamo.
Houston finished with an expected goal rate of 4.54, the fourth-highest of any MLS team this season, more than doubled their season high with seven big chances created and put a season-high 11 shots on target. Ultimately, the Dynamo forced eight saves from New England Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, surpassing the previous regular season high of forcing five saves in a single game.
Houston took the lead in the 38th minute after forward Corey Baird dribbled down the right wing into the box and found Quintero at the far post. Quintero easily tapped the ball home and now has eight goals this season, the second-most on the team.
The Revolution were awarded a penalty kick in the 62nd minute after referee Ismail Elfath went to the video monitor to review a tackle inside the box. Dynamo defender Tim Parker went toe-to-toe with Gustavo Bou attempting to clear a ball inside the penalty box and was ultimately called for a foul on his sliding effort. Carles Gil took the penalty kick and converted from the penalty spot for the equalizer.
The Dynamo were awarded a penalty kick in the 76th minute after New England midfielder Tommy McNamara blocked a shot from Picault with his arm inside the box. Picault converted the penalty kick for his sixth goal of the season.
Picault finished with a brace, tying his career single-game high for goals, with a spectacular shot from the edge of the box in the 85th minute. Baird carried the ball into the final third and found Picault in space for an uncontested shot that beat the New England goalkeeper at the far post.
Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark was called into action in the seventh minute to deny Gustavo Bou’s effort from outside the box. Clark later denied the Revolution with two consecutive saves in the 30th minute. Gil capitalized on a ball that got behind the Dynamo backline but lost the duel against Clark. The second ball fell to McNamara, but his effort rolled into the arms of the Dynamo goalkeeper, who finished with four saves against the Revolution tonight.
Houston was awarded a penalty kick in the 30th minute after Revolution defender Andrew Farrell blocked a shot from Picault with his arm. Forward Sebas Ferreira took the penalty kick, but his effort was saved at the bottom corner of the left post to keep the game scoreless for the time being.
Houston unloaded a sequence of four shots in 23 seconds beginning with a point-blank effort from Memo Rodriguez that hit Petrovic in the face. The second ball fell to Ferreira who was also denied by the Revolution goalkeeper. Petrovic ultimately denied Baird and Picault before New England was able to clear the ball.
The Dynamo close the week at Banc of California Stadium on Sunday when they face LAFC at 9:30 p.m. CDT. The match will air live in English on AT&T SportsNet Southwest and in Spanish on TeleXitos 47.2. The Dynamo return to PNC Stadium on Oct. 9 to host the LA Galaxy at 4 p.m. CDT in the regular season finale.
