Houston Dynamo FC defeated the Seattle Sounders by a final score of 2-1 at PNC Stadium on Saturday night.
In their matchup with the team atop the Western Conference table, the Dynamo were the first team to strike. Houston earned a free kick from the top of the 18-yard-box after a Joao Paulo foul in the 14th minute. Midfielder Darwin Quintero directed his teammates into position before curling a free kick onto the foot of forward Maxi Urruti, who smashed a side volley the ball past the keeper.
The goal was Urruti’s first since June 26, when he scored the lone Dynamo goal in a 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake.
Houston’s success continued throughout the first half. Six minutes later, Quintero took the scoring responsibilities into his own hands after receiving a pass from midfielder Griffin Dorsey. Quintero made a great move to flick the ball over the head of a Seattle defender before knifing his way through two more defenders in the box to open up enough space to get a shot off and tuck it into the net. It was the first time this season that Quintero has recorded both a goal and an assist.
Seattle broke through in the 41st minute, when a ricocheted corner kick fell to the feet of Jimmy Medranda, who squared up a took a shot from outside of the 18-yard-box that goalkeeper Michael Nelson could not stop. Medranda’s goal cut the Houston lead to one goal.
Quintero nearly doubled his goal total in the 50th minute, when a leaping header from forward Fafa Picault fell to the Colombian midfielder as he neared the goal. The pass was behind him, and Quintero deftly turned around and shot a bicycle kick that hit the cross bar.
Seattle nearly tied the game up in the 59th minute, when forward Will Bruin found midfielder Fredy Montero in scoring position with a cross. Nelson, however, was able to black the shot before leaping forward to cover up the ball and avert the danger.
The Dynamo will play at home once again on Wednesday night when they welcome the LA Galaxy to PNC Stadium. For tickets to that game visit https://www.houstondynamofc.com/tickets/.
