Houston Dynamo FC fell to the Colorado Rapids 1-0 at PNC Stadium this afternoon in the penultimate game of the season.
The Rapids took the lead in the 59th minute after Younes Namli found Dominique Badji inside the penalty area. Badji dribbled away from goal and beat the Dynamo shot stopper at the far post for the only goal of the game.
Dynamo midfielder Memo Rodriguez made his first start since Sept. 3 and the Dynamo Academy product forced a save at the near post in the 21st minute. Rodriguez finished with four shots and one key pass against the Rapids.
Midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla found Rodriguez in the final third in the 25th minute, but Colorado goalkeeper William Yarbrough beat the Dynamo Academy alum to the ball just outside the penalty box.
Badji forced a save from Dynamo goalkeeper Michael Nelson in the 27th minute and Lucas Esteves followed up with an effort outside the box six minutes later at the far post. The Katy native denied both efforts and finished with five saves against the Rapids.
Forward Griffin Dorsey made his 19th consecutive appearance for Houston today and the winger forced a save from Yarbrough in the 38th minute. Dorsey led the team with two shots on target and finished with five recoveries today.
Midfielder Oscar Boniek Garcia entered the game in the 64th minute and two minutes later the Honduran international just missed the inside of the far post with an effort from the edge of the box. The Dynamo captain earned his 235th appearance for the team in league play today.
Dynamo Homegrown Juan Castilla made his professional debut today when he came on in the 89th minute. Castilla is the youngest player to play for the Dynamo at 17 years, three months and five days old. The previous record was held by midfielder Francisco Navas Cobos who made his debut at 18 years, 151 days old in 2010.
Houston will close the regular season on Wednesday in Quebec, Canada against Club de Foot Montreal. The match will air live on QuestTexas ch. 55 in English and TeleXitos ch. 47.2 in Spanish.
