CHICAGO (April 6, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC opened a two-game road trip with a 2-1 loss to Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field earlier this evening. Houston has now split their first two road games of the season following a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on March 23.
Chicago was awarded the penalty in the ninth minute after defender Franco Escobar was deemed to have fouled Rafael Czichos in the box. Captain Xherdan Shaqiri stepped up and converted the attempt to give the Fire an early lead.
Houston equalized in the 65th minute when forward Aliyu Ibrahim capitalized on a loose ball from outside the box, burying a ball into the top right corner past Chris Brady. The score marked the Nigerian’s third goal of the season.
Chicago scored the game-winning goal in the 78th minute after Shaqiri played the ball to Brian Gutierrez just outside the box for a one-touch finish.
Houston’s first shot on goal came in the 22nd minute when midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla fed a ball to forward Amine Bassi in the middle of the box, but the 26-year-old’s quick-turn shot was not quite high enough to beat Brady. That was the first of three saves the Dynamo forced tonight.
The Dynamo created another chance in the 37th minute when defender Griffin Dorsey delivered a ball from the right edge of the penalty box to Escobar. The Argentinian’s effort just did not have enough pace to beat Brady.
Bassi created his own space and took his chances from outside the box in the 39th minute. His shot went past the fingertips of Brady and just wide of the far post.
Dorsey came up with a big interception at the penalty spot in the 45th minute, beating Chris Mueller to a dangerous ball that could have seen Chicago double its lead. A minute later, goalkeeper Steve Clark was called into action to stretch out and block the shot of a charging Hugo Cuypers. The veteran shot stopper made four saves against the Fire.
Ibrahim received a ball from Bassi as he was running into the box, hitting the left post with his attempt on goal in the 53rd minute. However, the 22-year-old Nigerian was ruled offside. Minutes later, a corner delivery from Bassi found the head of a leaping Escobar, who forced a diving save from Brady. Bassi created six chances on the night and tallied his first assist of the season.
Clark was called into action again in the 75th minute to deny Fabian Herbers at the near post.
Houston nearly equalized moments later following a foul on Dorsey. Bassi took the ensuing free kick and played the ball to Artur, but his shot just went wide of the near post.
The Dynamo next travel to face Minnesota United FC on Saturday, April 13, before returning home to host in-state rivals Austin FC at Shell Energy Stadium on April 20. Tickets for that match are available HERE.
