Houston Dynamo FC opened a two-game road trip with a 0-0 draw against the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park earlier this evening.
This is the second clean sheet on the road for the Dynamo this season and the 11th clean sheet for the team in all competitions this year. The Dynamo close this portion of the season in a playoff position with 29 points. League play will resume on Aug. 20 when the Dynamo host the Portland Timbers at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston will host Real Salt Lake three days later in the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
Dynamo captain Héctor Herrera won a free kick in the opening minute of the game after he suffered a foul outside the box. The midfielder took the ensuing free kick which was claimed by Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough at the far post. Herrera will depart for the MLS All-Star Game in the coming days to represent the Dynamo against Arsenal FC. He is the first player to represent the team at the All-Star Game since Alberth Elis played in the 2018 edition against Juventus.
The Rapids caught the Dynamo on a counterattack in the 14th minute, as Braian Galván ran to the edge of the box for the first shot on target of the game. Houston goalkeeper Steve Clark managed his first of three saves on the night, corralling the long attempt comfortably. This was the eighth clean sheet for Clark this season and that matches his career high set in 2014 with Columbus Crew SC and again two years later with the Crew.
Houston’s first dangerous attack from the run of play came in the 23rd minute when Herrera switched play to defender Franco Escobar on the left side. The outside back played the ball to forward Iván Franco. The Paraguayan forward played an overlapping ball to Escobar running into the box, but the ultimate attempt was blocked by the Colorado backline. The play went to a VAR review for a potential handball, but no penalty was given due to a ruling that Franco was in an offside position.
Forward Nelson Quiñónes took a shot from the left corner of the penalty box in the 27th minute, but the quick, low effort was saved by Yarbrough at the near post.
A few minutes later, Houston had several attempts on goal in the same passage of play that were all blocked by the Colorado backline – first by forward Aliyu Ibrahim, then Quiñónes, followed by Herrera.
Defender Erik Sviatchenko played a dangerous ball into the middle of the penalty box in the 43rd minute that almost found the head of defender Daniel Steres, but Yarbrough’s punch just beat the defender to the ball.
Defender Micael made a key tackle in the penalty box in the 49th minute to keep the match scoreless, after a Colorado break saw Darren Yapi in front of goal with the ball. The Brazilian centerback led the team with 10 clearances against the Rapids tonight. This was the 13th start for the 22-year-old who has played a key role in the backline following an injury to Designated Player Teenage Hadebe.
Franco found Herrera in space up the left touchline in the 55th minute. The Mexican international whipped a dangerous ball into the box, but forward Thor Úlfarsson was not able to meet the delivery in time.
Herrera then found Quiñónes to the left of the penalty box in the 58th minute. The 20-year-old made his way past two Colorado defenders with tricky footwork and delivered a ball across the face of goal, but a sliding Franco just mistimed his run at the back post. The Paraguayan forward forced a save two minutes later after his effort from the edge of the box deflected off Andrew Gutman toward the far post.
Herrera forced a save in the 86th minute after the Dynamo won a free kick just outside the box. His cross was intended for Sviatchenko at the near post, but Yarbrough punched the ball away as it raced toward the goal.
The Dynamo forced a save minutes later after Quiñónes dribbled into the box and laid off a ball for forward Corey Baird, his effort was on target but denied by the Rapids goalkeeper.
The Dynamo kickoff Leagues Cup play at Orlando City SC on Friday, July 21 before hosting Santos Laguna on Tuesday, July 25 at Shell Energy Stadium.
