The Houston Dynamo remained unbeaten at BBVA Compass Stadium this season with a 2-2 draw against Minnesota United FC tonight in front of 16,125 fans. The Dynamo struck for two first-half goals before Minnesota rallied in the second stanza to equalize the match.
The Dynamo offense came out strong, pressing the Loons’ defense from the opening whistle. In the 14th minute, a low cross from forward Erick Torres found forward Mauro Manotas in the middle of box. Manotas acted quickly and sent a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner, scoring his first goal of the season.
As the first half was coming to an end, the Dynamo extended the lead when defender Boniek GarcÃa executed a free kick outside the 18 yard box, forward Alberth Elis found the ball and blasted a right-footed shot from a close range to the bottom left corner.
The Loons quickly cut into the Dynamo lead after halftime. In the 47th minute, midfielder Kevin Molino sent a corner kick to the middle of box that found forward Christian Ramirez at a close range from the goal. Ramirez headed the ball into the top right corner of the goal.
In the 59th minute, Molino dribbled the ball down the right side and attempted a cross, his cross was deflected by defender Adolfo Machado. Forward Johan Venegas found the ball in the middle of the box and his left-footed shot found the top of the left corner to tie the game 2-2.
The Dynamo nearly pulled out the full three points in the 82nd minute when forward Romell Quioto, making his return to action after missing two games with a separated shoulder, found Torres behind the Minnesota defense. Torres got to the end of Quioto’s cross at the six-yard box, but his flicked shot with the outside of his boot trickled just wide of the far post.
Two minutes later, Torres again came close as defender Kevin Garcia, making his Major League Soccer debut, worked his way up the right flank and found the striker six yards from goal, but Torres’ shot sailed over the crossbar.
The Dynamo will continue the 2017 season, presented by 76, on Saturday, April 22 at 3:00 p.m. CDT against San Jose Earthquakes at BBVA Compass Stadium (TICKETS).
Houston Dynamo vs. Minnesota United FC
MLS Week 7
April 15, 2017 – BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,125
Scoring Summary:
HOU: Mauro Manotas 1 (Erick Torres 1 and Ricardo Clark 1) 14
HOU: Alberth Elis 2 (Boniek GarcÃa 1) 43
MIN: Christian Ramirez 5 (Kevin Molino 3) 47
MIN: Johan Venegas 2 (unassisted) 59
Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; Boniek GarcÃa, Adolfo Machado, Jalil Anibaba, DaMarcus Beasley; Ricardo Clark © (Kevin Garcia 59), Eric Alexander, Alex; Mauro Manotas (Vicente Sánchez 61), Erick Torres, Alberth Elis (Romell Quioto 77)
Unused Substitutes: Tyler Deric, Juan David Cabezas, Joe Holland, Andrew Wenger
Total shots: 19 (Mauro Manotas 5); Shots on goal: 6 (Mauro Manotas 4); Fouls: 8 (Alex 2); Offside: 1 (Alberth Elis 1); Corner kicks: 9 (Eric Alexander 4); Saves: 0
Minnesota United FC: Bobby Shuttleworth (John Alvbage 45+1); Jerome Thiesson, Francisco Calvo, Marc Burch, Brent Kallman; Kevin Molino, Sam Cronin, Rasmus Schuler (Miguel Ibarra 43), Collen Warner; Johan Venegas, Christian Ramirez
Unused Substitutes: Justin Davis, Jermaine Taylor, Ibson, Abu Danladi, Bashkim Kadrii
Total shots: 8 (Christian Ramirez 5); Shots on goal: 2 (Johan Vanegas 2); Fouls: 10 (Francisco Calvo 3); Offside: 1 (Johan Vanegas 1); Corner kicks: 4 (Kevin Molino 4); Saves: 4 (Bobby Shuttleworth and John Alvbage tied with 2)
Discipline:
MIN: Jerome Thiesson caution (unsporting behavior) 35
MIN: Brent Kallman caution (foul) 86
MIN: Johan Venegas caution (unsporting behavior) 90+4
OFFICIALS
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referee 1: Jonathan Johnson
Assistant Referee 2: Felisha Mariscal
Fourth Official: Younes Marrakchi
