Houston Dynamo FC took an early lead but ultimately fell 2-1 to the Seattle Sounders tonight at Lumen Field.
The Dynamo struck first in the 26th minute when midfielder Coco Carrasquilla rifled in a first-touch shot after Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei punched out a corner kick. Center back Daniel Steres was in the right place at the right time and deftly redirected Carrasquilla’s volley into the back of the net. It was Steres’ second goal of the season.
Seventeen-year-old midfielder Brooklyn Raines made his Major League Soccer debut when he came on for midfielder Memo Rodriguez in the 39th minute. The teenager is the second-youngest player in Dynamo history to appear in a league game at 17 years, 177 days old. His Houston Dynamo 2 teammate Juan Castilla holds the record at 17 years, 96 days of age when he debuted against Colorado on Oct. 31, 2021.
Seattle leveled the match at a goal apiece in the 60th minute through defender Nouhou. Seattle forward Jordan Morris worked free down the right flank and played a centering ball to forward Raul Ruidiaz. Ruidiaz’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell to Nouhou 12 yards from goal and he tucked a low shot inside the near post.
Seattle was awarded a penalty in the 73rd minute when forward Fredy Montero went down in the penalty area. Midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro stepped to the spot and laced a left-footed shot toward his right post, but goalkeeper Steve Clark was quick off his line to deny Lodeiro’s penalty. It was the seventh penalty save in Clark’s career.
The Sounders found the go-ahead goal in the 76th through a combination of Nouhou and Montero, however. After Seattle switched the point of attack, Nouhou ran onto a ball on the left wing and curled in a ball that found Montero at the six-yard box where he headed it into the back of the net.
Two minutes after Seattle’s equalizer, forward Fafa Picault tested Frei with a crisp shot from distance. Picault cut in on his right foot from the wing and laced a shot from 25 yards that forced a save from the Seattle goalkeeper.
Houston had another chance in the 86th minute when winger Nelson Quiñones won a foul 35 yards from goal. Carrasquilla curled a free kick into a dangerous area, and the deflected ball forced Frei to react quickly to collect it before a Dynamo player could run on.
In the 93rd minute, Steres carried the ball into the attacking third and lifted a ball in behind the Seattle defense. Forward Thor Ulfarsson ran in behind the Sounders back line, but missed getting a toe to the ball by inches.
Defender Griffin Dorsey won a corner kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time, giving Houston one last chance, but Frei was able to punch away the corner kick before referee Silviu Petrescu blew his whistle for full time.
The Dynamo return to PNC Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10 for the start of Soccer Kicks Cancer Weekend as they host longtime rivals Sporting Kansas City. Fans can tickets for that match here. Festivities include players wearing jerseys or warm-up tops featuring the names of pediatric cancer patients, yellow goal nets and corner flags, and a variety of fundraising initiatives. For additional information visit, HoustonDynamoFC.com/Charities.
