Houston Dynamo FC defeated the Portland Timbers 5-0 at Shell Energy Stadium tonight to improve its home record to 11-3-3 in all competitions this year.
The 5-0 result ties Houston’s largest margin of victory since defeating FC Dallas by the same score at home on March 12, 2016. The Dynamo last scored four goals in the first half on March 3, 2018, versus Atlanta United.
Tonight also marks Houston’s 13th clean sheet in all competitions this year.
Houston took the lead in the fifth minute after forward Amine Bassi converted a penalty kick. Houston was awarded a penalty kick after referee Marcos de Oliveira went to VAR to review a foul on defender Griffin Dorsey inside the box. This marked Bassi’s ninth goal of the season and his first in MLS play since June 21 versus the San Jose Earthquakes.
Forward Nelson Quiñónes doubled Houston’s lead in the 11th minute following a cross from midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla that was brought down by captain Héctor Herrera. The ball fell to Quiñónes outside the six-yard box for a one-touch finish, his second goal of the season and on his 21stbirthday.
The Dynamo took a 3-0 lead in the 14th minute after Herrera played the ball to Carrasquilla in front of the Timbers’ backline. The Panamanian international found forward Corey Baird in space outside the box. Baird dribbled around goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic and chipped the Timbers’ shot stopper for his fourth goal of the season.
Houston scored its fourth goal of the match in the final moments of the first half following a one-two play with defender Franco Escobar and Baird. Escobar began the play with a run at midfield and finished the play with a chipped shot for his second goal of the season.
Defender Brad Smith entered the game in the 61st minute, and a minute later the Australian international scored his first goal for the Club. The play began with a long pass from goalkeeper Steve Clark that found Smith outside the box. The defender brought the ball down with his chest and created space for a shot that beat Ivacic at the far post.
Houston’s first opportunity of the match came in the second minute after defender Erik Sviatchenko switched play and found Quiñónes unmarked in the opposing half. Nelson dribbled past a defender and forced a save from Ivacic.
The Dynamo nearly doubled their lead in the eighth minute after Carrasquilla found Baird onside in the final third. The forward’s effort was blocked inside the six-yard box by Miguel Araujo.
Bassi nearly scored his second goal of the match in the 42nd minute following a cross from Escobar. The cross found Bassi unmarked at the far post, but his header was off target.
The Dynamo next host Real Salt Lake in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals on Wednesday, Aug. 23 at Shell Energy Stadium, with kickoff schedule for 8:30 p.m. CT.
