Houston Dynamo FC fell 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park earlier today.
The Earthquakes were awarded a penalty kick in the seventh minute after a video review of a handball inside the box. San Jose forward Cristian Espinoza converted the penalty kick to give the home team the lead.
The Dynamo equalized after they were awarded a penalty kick in the 40th minute following a foul on forward Corey Baird at the edge of the box. Forward Amine Bassi converted from the penalty spot for his third goal of the year and third from the penalty spot.
The Earthquakes were awarded a second penalty kick following video review of a foul inside the box in the 64th minute. Espinoza converted from the penalty spot for his second goal of the game.
Houston’s most dangerous spell of the first half began in the 20th minute with a series of dangerous crosses from Héctor Herrer, Tate Schmitt and Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla. This match marked the return of Carrasquilla who missed Houston’s 1-0 victory over New York City FC last weekend due to the international window. Carrasquilla led Panama to a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica to reach the final four of the Concacaf Nations League.
Defensively, Teenage Hadebe made a pair of key blocks in the first half and led the team with four clearances in the opening 45 minutes. The Zimbabwe international denied Jonathan Mensah’s effort in the 39th minute with timely positioning inside the box.
Baird forced a save in the 52nd minute following a challenge on Carrasquilla at the edge of the box. The ball fell to the University of Stanford product and his effort at the near post was punched away by the ‘Quakes goalkeeper.
Homegrown forward Brooklyn Raines earned his second consecutive start of the season and first on the road. The 18-year-old was the first teenager to start a game for the Club in Houston’s 1-0 victory at Shell Energy Stadium last weekend. Raines won possession four times and finished with eight passes in the final third before exiting the game in the 56th minute for forward Iván Franco.
This was the first appearance for Franco since earning the start in Houston’s 2-0 victory over Austin FC on March 18 at home. He missed the following match to travel for the birth of his first child.
The Dynamo return to Shell Energy Stadium next weekend to host the LA Galaxy at 7:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 8. The first fans to enter the venue will receive Dynamo sunglasses, courtesy of Lexus. For tickets and additional information, visit HoustonDynamoFC.com.
