HOUSTON (March 2, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC fell 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls at Shell Energy Stadium**tonight, ending a home unbeaten streak in MLS matches stretching back to July 2023, a stretch of nine matches under head coach Ben Olsen.
Houston took the lead in the seventh minute after midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla switched play and found forward Aliyu Ibrahim at the edge of the box. A Red Bulls defender attempted to clear the ball and lost his balance, facilitating a one-on-one opportunity for Ibrahim. The forward finished at the far post for his first goal of the year. The 22-year-old has now scored one goal and tallied two assists in the last three matches.
The Red Bulls scored the equalizer in the 43rd minute off a cross from Dante Vanzeir that found Elias Manoel at the back post.
New York took the lead in the 59th minute after Lewis Morgan capitalized on a turnover in Houston’s half of the field. The midfielder dribbled to the top of the box and beat Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark at the near post.
The visitor’s first opportunity of the game came in the 20th minute after the Dynamo conceded a free kick just outside the box. Emil Forsberg took the ensuing free kick, but his effort bounced off the crossbar.
Forward Gabe Segal tested his luck with a long-range effort in the 27th minute, but his shot just missed the outside of the near post. Midfielder Artur and Carrasquilla created space for the forward to shoot from distance.
Clark was called into action in the 28th minute when he denied Daniel Edelman’s header at the near post. The Dynamo goalkeeper finished with three saves.
Houston nearly scored the equalizer in the 61st minute after the Red Bulls backline attempted to clear a cross from defender Griffin Dorsey. The ball bounced off two Red Bulls defenders prior to falling to Sebastian Kowalczyk, but his effort bounced off the far post. Ultimately, the Dynamo midfielder was called offside.
Carrasquilla was brought down by a Red Bulls defender in the 63rd minute, sparking a scrum between both teams that led to a yellow card for Dorsey and Red Bulls defender Frankie Amaya. Kowalczyk took the ensuing free kick and found defender Erik Sviatchenko, but his header was off target.
Houston almost equalized in the 89th minute after forward Amine Bassi delivered the ball into the box from distance to the head of a charging Dorsey, and the defender’s attempt forced a quick reaction save from Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.
Two minutes later, Carrasquilla cut back just outside of the box to create his own space and took a shot that glanced off the outside of the far post.
The Dynamo next host the defending MLS Cup champions, Columbus Crew, in the first leg of the Round of 16 in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Wednesday, March 6, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at Shell Energy Stadium. Columbus will host the second leg on Tuesday, March 12. Tickets for the first leg are available HERE.
