Houston Dynamo FC finished their road schedule on a high note, riding a first-half brace from forward Sebas Ferreira to claim a 2-1 win over Nashville SC in their final road test of the season.
Houston paired Ferreira’s goals with a stout effort from the back line to secure the victory. Dynamo defenders were credited with eight blocked shots on the night and successfully cut out 32 crosses and 11 of 12 corner kicks from a potent Nashville attack en route to victory.
The win improved Houston’s record to 10-17-6 on the year and was the Dynamo’s fourth victory away from home this season, the most on the road in a season for the Dynamo since 2013.
Houston took the lead in the 29th minute following a successful penalty kick from Ferreira. Houston was awarded the penalty kick after referee Guido Gonzales Jr. consulted video assistant referee Alex Chilowicz to confirm a foul inside the box by Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman on Dynamo forward Corey Baird.
Ferreira scored his second goal of the evening 10 minutes later. Forward Darwin Quintero won the ball near midfield and dribbled toward the near post to create space for a pass for the Paraguayan international. The 24-year-old found the back of the net for his 12th goal of the season, the most for a Dynamo player in his first season at the Club.
Nashville pulled a goal back late when defender Walker Zimmerman headed in a corner kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time, but were unable to muster another chance.
Looking to see out the game after Nashville’s late goal, the Dynamo won a pair of corner kicks late in stoppage time to keep the ball on Nashville’s end of the pitch as the waning seconds ticked off the clock. Houston’s back line cut out one final counterattack from Nashville before referee Guido Gonzalez Jr. whistled for full time.
Ferreira nearly had his hat trick in the 63rd minute on a quick counterattack. Midfielder Coco Carrasquilla sprung him in behind the Nashville backline near midfield and Ferreira raced in alone with two defenders in pursuit. His right-footed shot forced an excellent save from Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis to keep the score at 2-0.
Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark came up with a pair of big interventions late on, first making solid save in the 80th, easily getting low to smother a shot from Teal Bunbury. He came up big again in the 90th minute, racing quickly off his line to cut out a through pass intended for Ake Loba before the attacker could run onto it. Clark was credited with two saves on the night.
The Dynamo will close the regular season at home against Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez and the LA Galaxy on Oct. 9. Fans are invited to cheer for their favorite group at the Mariachi Battle at the Hold It Down Plaza during pregame. The winner of the battle will perform at halftime. Additionally, the first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a Héctor Herrera bobblehead.
