HOUSTON (Nov. 3, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC fell 7-6 in a penalty shootout versus Seattle Sounders FC at Shell Energy Stadium tonight to bring their 2024 season to an end in Game 2 of the Round One Best-of-3 Series in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The two sides played to a 1-1 draw in regulation after Cristian Roldan opened scoring for Seattle in the 87th minute, before Houston forced the Sounders into an own goal in the 93rd minute.
In the penalty shootout, every player converted their attempt until Houston’s seventh kick, when goalkeeper Stefan Frei dove to the right and blocked defender Tate Schmitt’s attempt with his legs.
Similar to Game 1 in Seattle, Houston played the final 25 minutes of the match with 10 men after VAR determined captain Héctor Herrera showed unsporting behavior.
In Game 1 on Monday, the Dynamo and Sounders played to a scoreless draw in regulation, with the Sounders winning the ensuing penalty shootout 5-4. Despite playing a majority of the second half with 10 men after midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla was shown a red card, Houston still managed to secure their 10th clean sheet of the year. Carrasquilla was suspended for tonight’s match.
Altogether, Houston followed up last season’s run to the Western Conference Final with another playoff appearance, marking the first time with consecutive postseason appearances since 2013 and the 10th time overall. The Dynamo also set a single-season record for road wins (8) and points (54), earning the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference with a 15-10-9 (WLD) record.
Seattle took the lead in the 87th minute when Roldan found the bottom right corner of the net following a pass from Nouhou Tolo.
Houston’s goal in the third minute of stoppage time came after defender Griffin Dorsey played a ball to the middle of the box that found the back of the net off the foot of a Sounder.
Notably, goalkeeper Steve Clark made his 20th postseason appearance tonight.
Houston’s first opportunity came in the 16th minute when Herrera whipped a corner towards the top of the box, finding the head of defender Erik Sviatchenko for an on target shot.
Forward Ezequiel Ponce almost found the back of the net minutes later after a ball from Dorsey found the Argentine striker for a right-footed shot that was cleared off the goal line by Seattle’s backline.
Ponce had another dangerous chance in the 40th minute when forward Aliyu Ibrahim played a ball to Ponce near the six-yard box for a strike that found the legs of Frei.
The Dynamo generated another scoring opportunity in the 53rd minute with Herrera found Ponce on a run towards the box, but his shot found the feet of the Sounders goalkeeper again.
Herrera forced a save in the 58th minute following a left-footed shot from the top of the box.
Ibrahim forced another Seattle save minutes later with a strike that towards the inside of the far post.
