Houston Dynamo FC rallied for a thrilling 3-2 preseason win over the Colorado Rapids this evening at Kino Sports Complex.
After Colorado took an early lead, the Dynamo controlled much of the last hour of the contest, producing a number of excellent scoring chances in addition to their three goals.
Colorado opened the scoring in the seventh minute off a header from forward Diego Rubio off of a cross from midfielder Lucas Esteves.
Houston equalized just after the half-hour mark through Designated Player Sebastián Ferreira in the 33rd minute. The Paraguayan started and finished the play, playing the ball to forward Fafa Picault outside the Rapids 18-yard box that Picault ran onto, drawing two defenders before laying off to Ferreira at the penalty spot.
Fifteen-year-old forward Andre Gitau gave Houston a 2-1 lead in the 82nd minute when he raced down the left flank to get onto the end of a diagonal ball from center back Ethan Bartlow. The Dynamo Academy product cut in onto his right foot, skipped past two defenders and slid a low shot past the Colorado goalkeeper.
Colorado leveled in the 87th minute through forward Dantouma Toure before Houston midfielder Coco Carrasquilla netted the winner in stoppage time on a one-man counterattack. The Panamanian international picked up the ball at midfield and drove straight at the Rapids defense, cutting onto his right foot at the top of the area and burying a shot in the lower left corner of the net.
Gitau wasn’t the only Dynamo Academy product to enjoy a memorable evening. Seventeen-year-old midfielder Juan Castilla made his first start for the Dynamo first team in any competition and was tidy in possession and physical in his tackles during 45-minute shift.
The Dynamo will wrap up their trip to Arizona for the Desert Showcase on Tuesday, Feb. 8 for a pair of split-squad games against El Paso Locomotive FC and Phoenix Rising. The Dynamo will host Austin FC at PNC Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 12 for their lone preseason match in Houston.
