Houston Dynamo FC defeated San Antonio FC in the round of 32 in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by a final score of 1-0, with the winning goal coming in the final 10 minutes of regulation.
Forward Sebastián Ferreira provided the only goal of the match in the 82nd minute with a leaping header from just in front of the net to give the Dynamo a 1-0 lead. The scoring play began with a short corner kick from midfielder Marcelo Palomino to defender Sam Junqua, who crossed the ball to the back post where the Paraguayan striker outjumped his opponent to get his head on the ball. The goal came on Ferreira’s last touch of the game before coming off as a substitute.
Dynamo goalkeeper Michael Nelson was called into action in the 40th minute when he denied San Antonio midfielder Nicky Hernandez from point-blank range. Hernandez used his heel to flick a free kick across the box to an oncoming teammate who headed the ball back across goal to Hernandez for the first shot on goal of the game.
Houston’s first opportunity of the second half came off the boot of midfielder Memo Rodriguez in the 63rd minute after he received a ball at the edge of the six-yard box from Ferreira. The Dynamo Academy alum created space for a shot, but his effort whistled just wide of the far post.
Houston was denied two minutes later by goalkeeper Jordan Farr who controlled Ferreira’s shot from close range. Farr made another nice save shortly afterwards when forward Beto Avila, seeing his first action since signing with the Dynamo first team, whipped a curling shot toward goal from the edge of the penalty area.
The draw for the Round of 16 in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup will take place tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. CDT during the Fútbol Americas program on ESPN+.
The Dynamo return to PNC Stadium on Saturday to host Nashville SC at 7:30 p.m. CDT. The team will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its home stadium, which hosted its first match on May 12, 2012. In honor of the anniversary, tickets for the match start at $10 and are available at online.
