Houston Dynamo FC earned three points on the road tonight, defeating rivals Sporting Kansas City 2-1 at Children’s Mercy Park.
Captain Héctor Herrera scored his first goal of the season, while forward Aliyu Ibrahim found the back of the net for a team-leading fourth time this season.
Houston scored the winning goal in the 78th minute when defender Griffin Dorsey slipped a pass through to Ibrahim, who slotted the ball home in the far corner for his team-leading fourth goal of the season. The play marked Dorsey’s first assist of the season.
Herrera, who started his second match of the season tonight, gave Houston the lead in the 31st minute, whipping a shot from the edge of the box inside the far post of the net. The play marked 34-year-old’s first goal of the season, after a recording his first assist of the year last week in the U.S. Open Cup.
Kansas City equalized in the 61st minute when a deflected pass fell to Dániel Sallói, who turned and hit the ball into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.
Midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla managed Houston’s first shot on goal in the eighth minute, but his low attempt from outside of the box was handled by goalkeeper Tim Melia.
Defender Micael came up with a big block inside the box in the 15th minute when Alan Pulido won the ball in Houston’s half and wound up for a shot outside of the box.
The 23-year-old Brazilian came up with another key intervention, intercepting a ball in the box after a pass over the top fell to the feet of William Agada.
Goalkeeper Steve Clark was called into action in the 37th minute, deflecting away a strong shot from Sallói. The veteran shot stopper ended the night with 5 saves.
A charging Carrasquilla fired a shot from the edge of the penalty box, forcing a quick-reaction grab from Melia in the 38th minute. The Panamanian international ended the match with 2 shots on the night.
Micael once again diverted a Kansas City goalscoring opportunity, sprinting to beat Agada to a long ball that would have seen him in on goal.
Clark stepped up again in the 43rd minute, after a midfield giveaway gave former Dynamo player Memo Rodriguez the opportunity to shoot on goal, but the 37-year-old made a diving stop to secure the ball.
Dorsey got inside the box in the 48th minute and managed a shot, but his attempt was just tipped over the bar.
In the 66th minute, Ibrahim played a one-two passe with forward Amine Bassi, allowing him to run into the left edge of the box for a shot, but the tight angle made it difficult to beat Melia. Minutes later, a corner delivery from Herrera to the head of defender Erik Sviatchenko was saved on the line by a diving Melia.
Bassi managed his second shot on goal in the 73rd minute after a quick pass from Dorsey on the edge of the box, but his attempt was scooped up by Melia.
Clark stepped up again in the 88th minute to make a crucial stop on Agada’s attempt to keep Houston in the lead.
The Dynamo next travel to face in-state rivals Austin FC on Wednesday, May 15 before hosting FC Dallas in the second leg of the Texas Derby on Saturday, May 18. Tickets for that match at Shell Energy Stadium are available HERE.
