HOUSTON (June 29, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC defeated Charlotte FC 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium tonight behind forward Aliyu Ibrahim’s fifth goal of the season.
Houston is now undefeated in its last six matches and has scored 14 goals over that stretch.
The match got off to a quick start, as Ibrahim found the back of the net in the fifth minute for his team-leading fifth goal of the season. The opportunity arose when forward Amine Bassi played a ball into the box from the left side to forward Sebas Ferreira, who chipped the ball on to Ibrahim.
Goalkeeper Steve Clark was first called into action in the eighth minute, diving down to the near post to block an outside-the-box attempt from Kerwin Vargas. The veteran goalkeeper managed four saves on the night.
Defender Franco Escobar won a free kick for Houston 10 yards outside of the penalty box in the 27th minute, setting up captain Héctor Herrera for a set piece opportunity. The Mexican international curled his shot on target, but the ball was corralled by goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina.
Clark was called into action again in the 29th minute, when Liel Abada took his chances from outside of the box, but the goalkeeper managed to quell the danger with ease.
Herrera managed another chance on goal in the 36th minute after cutting back inside the box, but his attempt was blocked by a Charlotte defender.
Houston had an early second-half chance in the 48th minute when Bassi slipped a ball through to Griffin Dorsey in the left side of the box, but the defender’s tight shot from the left side of goal carried just over the bar.
Charlotte was on the attack in the box in the 59th minute, but Clark protected the near post down low by deflecting the shot and collecting the rebound.
Clark stepped up again in the 75th minute to stop another Abada shot with a crucial diving save to the left, keeping Houston ahead by a goal.
Houston next travels to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, July 3 with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT at America First Field.
