Houston Dynamo FC played the St. Louis CITY SC, the Western Conference’s top team, to a 1-1 draw at Shell Energy Stadium earlier today. Houston is now undefeated in its last six league matches since July 15, reaching that milestone for the first time since September 2020, and will end the night as high as fifth in the Western Conference standings.
The Dynamo took the lead in the 42nd minute following a four-pass sequence inside the box that finished with forward Amine Bassi chipping the ball toward the far post. Forward Corey Baird was well positioned to head the ball for his 12th goal in all competitions this year. The 27-year-old is one goal away from tying his season career-high of eight goals during his rookie season.
St. Louis’ goal in the 87th minute ended Houston’s streak of 540 minutes without conceding a goal, the second-longest streak in club history (longest: 727 minutes between June and July in 2007).
The equalizer came in the 87th minute after goalkeeper Steve Clark made a diving save at the near post to deny Tomás Ostrák’s strong shot from inside the box. The ball fell to João Klauss, who was in position to head the ball into the open net.
Houston’s first shot of the night came off the right foot of midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla in the third minute. His effort from outside the box was off target, and the Panamanian international finished with three shots tonight. Carrasquilla is one of three Dynamo players to return from international duty for this match. The midfielder started both of Panama’s Concacaf Nation’s League matches, leading his country to a 3-0 victory over Martinique and a 1-1 draw with Guatemala.
St. Louis won a free kick just outside the box in the ninth minute following a foul on Aziel Jackson. Dynamo defender Micael blocked the free kick and the Houston defense held firm on the ensuing corner kick.
Defender Griffin Dorsey dribbled along the top of the box in the 14th minute to create space for a shot that was blocked by a St. Louis defender.
Clark was called into action in the 28th minute when he handled Jackson’s effort at the near post. Jackson forced a save from Clark at the opposite post five minutes later. The Dynamo goalkeeper finished with six saves versus St. Louis.
Dynamo midfielder Artur suffered a foul 10 yards outside the box in the 34th minute. Captain Héctor Herrera, who also recently returned from international duty with Mexico, played a cross into the box that was cleared by the St. Louis backline.
Artur made a key intervention in the 55th minute when he won a tackle outside the box to deny Jackson from a one-on-one with Clark.
In the 74th minute, Carrasquilla found defender Griffin Dorsey running down the right wing. Dorsey played the ball across to defender Franco Escobar at the far post, who headed the ball down to Bassi, but the 25-year-old’s shot was unable to beat goalkeeper Roman Bürki in the bottom left corner of the frame.
The Dynamo next host the Vancouver Whitecaps at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 20, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.
