COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (March 23, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 earlier today at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, earning their second consecutive shutout victory of the season.
Houston tallied the lone goal of the match in the final minute of stoppage time once the Dynamo backline cleared a long throw in. Artur played the ball out of the box and found forward Sebas Ferreira near midfield. The Paraguayan forward played the ball to an unmarked Brad Smith who found the bottom corner of the near post.
Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark was called into action in the first five minutes when he beat Rafael Navarro to the ball at the edge of the box. The Rapids forward got a touch on a header that generated the 50-50 ball outside of Houston’s penalty box.
Houston had its first shot on goal in the 22nd minute when midfielder Brooklyn Raines played a long ball to forward Aliyu Ibrahim, who dribbled his way into the right side of the penalty box. The 22-year-old’s low shot went through the legs of the defender but was corralled by Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
Midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk played a ball to defender Griffin Dorsey running into the right side of the box in the 33rd minute, but the Colorado native’s shot went wide of the far post.
Colorado’s Djordje Mihailovic controlled a ball near the touch line in the 42nd minute and managed a quick flick to the near post, but Clark was alert to the chance and quelled the danger down low.
Houston’s first shot of the second half came off Dorsey’s right foot in the 52nd minute, but his effort missed the inside of the far post.
Midfielder Jan Gregus passed the ball to Dorsey in the 56th minute, who ran up the left wing. The 25-year-old delivered a ball to the far post, but the cross was just out of reach for forward Gabe Segal.
Defender Micael came up with a key block in the 62nd minute when Calvin Harris found Navarro in open space running onto the edge of the penalty box. Micael positioned himself well to quell the danger.
Clark was called into action again in the 66th minute, tipping Kevin Cabral’s shot over the bar when he found himself with room to shoot in the box.
Ferreira entered the match in the 67th minute, marking his first minutes since being sidelined due to an injury in Houston’s opening match of the year at St. Louis CITY SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Clark was well positioned in the 75th minute to handle Mihailovic’s shot from the box. The Dynamo shot stopper finished with three saves against the Rapids tonight and his second shutout of the season.
Houston next returns to Shell Energy Stadium to host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, March 30, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for that match are available HERE.
