RECAP: Houston Dynamo FC defeat Austin FC 3-0

NEED TO KNOW:

·       FW Griffin Dorsey scored third-fastest goal in Club history

·       FW Fafà Picault scored two goals for the 4th time in his MLS career

·       GK Michael Nelson earned his first career clean sheet

HOUSTON – Houston Dynamo FC defeated Austin FC by a final score of 3-0 this evening at BBVA Stadium. The win marks the largest margin of victory for Houston on the season and ends the team’s 16-game winless streak.

Forward Fafà Picault bagged a brace while goalkeeper Michael Nelson notched his first career clean sheet with assistance from the Dynamo back line. Houston held Austin to just two shots on goal, both of which Nelson saved, while defenders blocked seven shots before they ever got to the target.

The Dynamo did not waste time starting the scoring. The first goal of the game came in just the first minute of the game, when forward Griffin Dorsey blasted the ball into the back of the net after a shot from midfielder Darwin Quintero was blocked. The goal, which came just 48 seconds into the match, was the third-fastest in Dynamo history. It was also the first of Dorsey’s MLS career.

The Dynamo doubled their lead in the 24th minute thanks to the hustle of Picault. The forward ran on to a long ball from defender Teenage Hadebe and picked the pocket of an Austin defender before curling the ball around Austin’s goalkeeper. The assist is the first for Hadebe since joining the MLS.

Picault struck once again in the 64th in a wild sequence that started when Nelson saved an Austin shot and the rebound ricocheted off the post. A long clearance found its way to Picault sprinting down the left side of the pitch on a solo counter attack, before he worked his way in front of goal and knocked the ball into the net.

Picault’s two goals gave him eight on the year, six of which have come in the last eight matches. This marks the fourth time Picault has recorded an MLS brace and the first since Oct. 31, 2020 against FC Dallas.

With the win, the Dynamo evened the season series with their in-state rival and overtook them in the standings. The two teams will face off once again in Austin on Oct. 24.

Prior to the match, the Dynamo took part in a league wide remembrance of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which took place on this date 20 years ago. In addition to wearing a commemorative patch, the ceremony included a moment of silence followed by the singing of the national anthem by a Houston-area FBI agent of more than 30 years.

This game marked the coming together of two of the four Texas-based professional soccer teams participating in the Texas Unites fundraiser for Hurricane Ida relief efforts. To donate to the relief efforts, go to https://justgiving.com/campaign/texasunites.

The Dynamo will travel to Los Angeles to take on the LA Galaxy for their next contest. Kickoff for that match is set for 9:30 p.m. CDT and fans can tune in at Quest Texas 55 and MLS Live on ESPN+.

Houston Dynamo FC (4-10-10; 22 pts.) 3-0 Austin FC (5-14-4; 19 pts.)

MLS Regular Season – Week 24

BBVA Stadium – Houston, Texas

Attendance: 14,070

SCORING SUMMARY

HOU: Griffin Dorsey 1 (Unassisted) 1

HOU: Fafà Picault 7 (Unassisted) 24

HOU: Fafà Picault 8 (Teenage Hadebe 1) 64

LINEUPS:

Houston Dynamo FC: Michael Nelson; Adam Lundkvist, Teenage Hadebe, Tim Parker (C), Zarek Valentin; Matías Vera, Joe Corona (Darwin Cerén 58); Darwin Quintero (Memo Rodriguez 58); Fafà Picault (Sam Junqua 76), Maxi Urruti, Griffin Dorsey (Ariel Lassiter 76)

Unused substitutes: Kyle Morton, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Derrick Jones, Ian Hoffmann, Boniek Garcia

Total shots: 16 (Maxi Urruti 4); Shots on goal: 7 (Fafà Picault 3); Fouls: 16 (Zarek Valentin 3); Offside: 4; Corner kicks: 3; Saves: 2 (Michael Nelson 2)

Austin FC: Brad Stuver; Nick Lima, Jhohan Romaña, Julio Cascante, Hector Jimenez (Zan Kolmanic 69); Tomas Pochettino (Rodney Redes 46), Alex Ring (C), Diego Fagundez, Dani Pereira (Sebastian Berhalter 46); Cecilio Dominguez (Moussa Djitte 69), Sebastian Driussi

Unused substitutes: Andrew Tarbell, Jon Gallagher, Freddy Kleemann, Kekuta Manneh, Jared Stroud

Total shots: 15 (Alex Ring 4); Shots on goal: 2 (Alex Ring, Cecilio Dominguez 1); Fouls: 12 (Alex Ring 4); Offside: 1; Corner kicks: 10; Saves: 4 (Brad Stuver 4)

DISCIPLINE:

ATX: Tomas Pochettino (yellow card, foul) 22

HOU: Fafà Picault (yellow card, foul) 39

ATX: Alex Ring (yellow card, foul) 44

ATX: Sebastien Berhalter (yellow card, foul) 51

HOU: Adam Lundkvist (yellow card, foul) 52

OFFICIALS:

Referee: Ismail Elfath

Assistant Referee: Jason White

Assistant Referee: Eric Weisbrod

Fourth Official: Armando Villarreal

VAR: Drew Fischer

Weather: 91 degrees, clear skies