By Sasha Colcheck
Ben Olsen Houston Dynamo head coach Post-match Press Conference March 12, 2024 Crew 1 Dynamo 1 CONCACAF Crew wins on Aggregate goals 2-1.mp3
3 12 2024
COLUMBUS, Ohio (March 12, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC earned a 1-1 draw at the Columbus Crew earlier tonight in the second leg of the Round of 16 in the Concacaf Champions Cup but were eliminated from the regional competition on the 2-1 aggregate score. Columbus won the first leg 1-0 at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday last week.
The Crew scored the opening goal of the game in the 40th minute after forward Christian Ramirez switched play and found Cucho Hernández at the opposite post. The Colombian forward found the bottom corner of the near post for the opening goal of the match.
Houston equalized the score in the 90th minute after defender Griffin Dorsey converted his first career professional penalty kick attempt in regulation. The Dynamo earned the penalty when Steven Moreira handled the ball inside the six-yard box after Dorsey crossed the ball to forward Aliyu Ibrahim.
Houston’s first threat of the match came in the 17th minute following a free kick that was cleared by the Columbus backline. Houston won possession, ultimately reaching defender Ethan Bartlow on the edge of the box, but his cross went out of play at the far post.
Ibrahim forced a save in the 38th minute following a pass from defender Franco Escobar,who made his second start of the year tonight, at the near post. Forward Amine Bassi took the ensuing free kick and found Escobar, but his header was off target.
Midfielder Ján Greguš tallied Houston’s first shot on goal of the second half in the 48th minute, but his effort was cleared at the far post by Yevhen Cheberko.
Bassi, who also made his second start of the year tonight, forced a save from Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte in the 54th minute.
Midfielder Ousmane Sylla made his professional debut in the 85th minute, replacing Bassi. The Dynamo drafted the 22-year-old in the second round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft with the No. 55 overall pick in December. The Senegal native earned the 2023 MAC Hermann Trophy after his senior season at Clemson University, the most prestigious honor in college soccer awarded to the top player in men’s and women’s soccer.
The Dynamo resume league play at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday, March 16, against the Portland Timbers with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets for that match are available HERE.
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