Houston Dynamo FC dropped a hard-fought 2-1 result to Minnesota United FC at a rainy Allianz Field this afternoon.
Houston took the lead in first half stoppage time after forward Fafa Picault switched play and found defender Griffin Dorsey in space on the right flank. The defender lofted a diagonal ball to Corey Baird behind the Minnesota back line just inside the box. Baird brought the ball down with his chest and beat the Minnesota goalkeeper with a perfectly-weighted slicing effort that floated into the back of the net at the far post.
Minnesota leveled the match on a free kick from midfielder Emanuel Reynoso in the 79th minute. The Argentinian fired a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that deflected off of Picault and into the back of the net.
The Loons took the lead four minutes later after forward Luis Amarilla scored from eight yards out off of a centering pass from right back Alan Benitez. Benitez received a pass from Reynoso on the right wing and drove to the byline before playing a ball back toward the penalty spot where Amarilla ran onto it and put away his first-touch effort.
Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark was called into action in the 10th minute after he cleared a corner kick that was floating dangerously toward the back post. Clark was credited with one save against the Loons. Today was televised on Univision, meaning that Clark provided $500 worth of soccer equipment for Houston-area schools through the Every Save Makes A Difference initiative from Univision, AllState and MLS WORKS.
Houston’s attack created a number of dangerous opportunities during the second half, but the Minnesota defense did well to intervene in each instance. The Dynamo’s best look at goal came in the 63rd minute when forward Sebas Ferreira forced a diving save after he capitalized on a loose ball inside the box and blistered a low right-footed shot toward the far post. Nineteen-year-old winger Nelson Quiñones made his debut for the Club when he came on for Baird in the 81st minute. Houston acquired Quiñones on loan from Once Caldas S.A. in Colombia on July 27.
Houston returns to PNC Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 31 to host Los Angeles FC. Fans can purchase tickets to that match here.
