Houston Dynamo Suffering A 1-0 Loss Against Toronto FC
Article: Fidel Leija
After a Hard-Fought Leagues Cup, the MLS returns to action with the Houston Dynamo Facing Toronto FC at Shell Energy Stadium. Both teams are fighting for a spot in the playoffs. With the Dynamos being the favorites to win the match with the home field advantage and a 61% chance of winning.
The Houston Dynamo, with 10 games left in the season, are located at number 7 in the Western Conference with a possible win being able to keep them in the 7 th position or upper them to the 6 th position. For Toronto FC with 8 games left off the season are seated in the 8 th position of the Eastern Conference with a must win match in order to keep the hopes and dreams of making the Playoffs this season with a loss it could bring them down two positions.
Ben Olsen head coach of the Dynamos went out with a starting lineup of Steve Clark GK, Defenders Franco Escobar, Griffin Dorsey, and Erik Sviatchenko, Midfielders Micael dos Santos, Artur, Latif Blessings, Hector Herrera (C), and Ibrahim Aliyu, and with the attackers Amine Bassi, and Ezequiel Ponce a 4-2-3-1.
Pics: Carlos Aaron Amaya
The first 15 minutes of the match both teams showing how much they want to win the match with both teams having two shots on goals. Erik Sviatchenko had the chance to put the Dynamos up ahead at the 20th minute with a long shot but was rejected by Toronto FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson forcing a corner kick. The environment of the stadium was electrifying with the fans cheering along and getting louder at any given opportunity. The Dynamos kept on fighting almost near halftime with 10 shots in total never lighting down the pressure. As halftime came its way the match was tied 0-0 with the result standing like that the Houston Dynamo staying in the same 7th position on the Western Conference along with Toronto FC also staying in the 8 th position of the Eastern Conference. Both teams fought hard on the first half with Houston attacking and Toronto being able to defend the goal.
As the second half went underway both teams came out with the same players no changes made. Toronto came up strong in the first seven minutes of the second half with pressuring the defenders and shooting they’re shots gaining a corner kick which gave Toronto an opportunity to gain the lead with a goal on the 52nd minute by Prince Owusu with a headshot. With that goal Ben Olsen makes two substitutions on the 60 th minute taking out Ibrahim Aliyu, and Latif Blessing bringing in Lawrence Ennali, and Sebastian Kowalczyk.
The Dynamo almost had the chance to tie the game at the 62nd minute when Franco Escobar first shots the ball hitting the goal post. Toronto FC now with the one score lead starts backing down defending the result trusting that the Dynamo will make a crucial mistake and trust the counterattack, while for the Dynamos start attacking more looking for the open spaces and creating, they’re chances and taking every opportunity given. The starts to get heated on the 77th minute when Sebastain Kowalczyk has a hard foul against Richie Laryea with the two almost getting into a heated argument. Ben Olsen making the final substitutions taking out Amine Bassi, and Eik Sviatchenko and Bringing in Sebastian Ferreira, and Brad Smith.
With 10 minutes left the Dynamos keep on
fighting when on the 80 th minute Kowalczyk shots a long shot being rejected by
Johnson. With the match closing on the fourth referee gives an additional five
minutes extra time the Houston Dynamos keep on trying to score the tie but fails to
make the ball go in the goal. The final shot came in when Artur centers it but
Kowalczyk misses a headshot with that the referee calls for the end of the game
Toronto gaining an important victory against the Dynamo 1-0. With the Victory
Toronto manages to stay in the 8 th Position of the Eastern Conference while for the
Houston Dynamo they drop down one position and enter the Play in Playoff zone.
In the post-match conference Houston Dynamo Head coach Ben Olsen spoke about
the loss and the many chances missed during the game stating “If we’re gonna be
the team we wanna be we have to be killers”. With that the Houston Dynamo travel
up to Los Angeles where next Saturday they face off against the LAFC who’s
seeded in the 2 nd position of the western conference and is the finalist in this year’s
2024 Leagues Cup.
