The Houston Dynamo tied a franchise record for goals scored on the road with a 4-1 victory versus the Colorado Rapids tonight at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Dynamo forward Memo Rodriguez gave Houston the lead in the fourth minute with his fourth goal of the season off a one-touch finish inside the box. Rodriguez turned away from a defender near midfield to find forward Alberth Elis outside the box, the Honduran international drew two defenders away from Rodriguez and placed a well-weighted pass near the penalty spot that found the Dynamo Academy product for the goal.
Elis has assisted Rodriguez on his last three goals, which include two assists in a 3-2 Dynamo victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on March 16 at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Houston doubled their lead with an own goal in the 15th minute after Elis’ cross forced Axel Sjöberg to clear the ball inside the box. Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard got a touch on the cross but with Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas crashing the back post, Sjöberg was unable to control his momentum and his final touch sent the ball into the back of the net.
Elis forced a second own goal in the 34th minute after his cross compelled Keegan Rosenberry to clear the ball at the near post. Dynamo midfielder Tomás Martínez and Elis connected with a one-two pass at the edge of the box, forcing Howard to trail the Honduran international. Elis’ run pulled Rosenberry to the heart of the box and his effort to clear the ball with the outside of his foot gave Houston a three goal lead.
Houston withstood early pressure from the Rapids in the second half and responded with their fourth goal of the evening in the 67th minute. Martinez evaded two defenders along the sideline to find former Colorado Rapids forward Marlon Hairston in space. The forward played the ball to Manotas outside the box and the Colombian international found Elis in stride for his second goal of the year.
Kei Kamara pulled a goal back for Colorado in the 81st minute from the penalty spot. The Rapids were awarded a penalty kick after a handball was called on Maynor Figueroainside the box. Kamara converted the resulting spot kick for Colorado’s only goal of the game.
Manotas forced a corner kick in the 53rd minute after Martinez found the Colombian international in-space inside the box. Howard came off his line to and got a touch on Manotas’ effort at the near post.
Colorado midfielder Nicolas Mezquida forced a save with a shot from outside the box in the 63rd minute. His effort was saved at the bottom corner of the near post by Joe Willis, who finished with four saves against the Rapids.
The Dynamo have a week off next weekend before returning to BBVA Compass Stadium after an international break at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 to face the San Jose Earthquakes. Tickets for the match are on sale now, starting at $24, at HoustonDynamo.com or by phone at 713-276-4625 (GOAL).
Colorado Rapids 1-4 Houston Dynamo
MLS Regular Season, Week 5
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, Colorado
Attendance: 11,061
SCORING SUMMARY:
HOU: Memo Rodriguez 4 (Alberth Elis 3) 4
HOU: Axel Sjöberg (own goal) 15
HOU: Keegan Rosenberry (own goal) 34
HOU: Alberth Elis 2 (Mauro Manotas) 67
COL: Kei Kamara 2 (penalty kick) 81
LINEUPS:
Colorado Rapids: Tim Howard; Keegan Rosenberry, Axel Sjöberg, Tommy Smith, Dillon Serna (Kellyn Acosta 56); Jack Price, Nicolas Mezquida (Sam Nicholson 70), Cole Bassett, Benny Feilhaber (Andre Shinyashiki 85); Kei Kamara, Diego Rubio
Substitutes not used: Clint Irwin, Danny Wilson, Deklan Wynne, Bismark Boateng
Total shots: 20 (Kei Kamara 5); Shots on goal: 5 (Kei Kamara 3); Fouls: 16 (Benny Feilhaber and Diego Rubio tied with 4); Offside: 1 (Kei Kamara 1); Corner kicks: 5 (Jack Price 5); Saves: 4 (Tim Howard 4)
Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; Adam Lundkvist, Maynor Figueroa, Aljaž Struna, A.J. DeLaGarza; Matías Vera, Boniek García (Tommy McNamara 64), Tomás Martínez (Darwin Cerén 79); Memo Rodriguez (Marlon Hairston 46), Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis
Substitutes not used: Tyler Deric, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Kevin Garcia, Sam Junqua
Total shots: 10 (Alberth Elis 5); Shots on goal: 6 (Alberth Elis 3); Fouls: 14 (Aljaž Struna 3); Offside: 4 (Mauro Manotas 2); Corner kicks: 4 (Boniek García 2); Saves: 4 (Joe Willis 4)
DISCIPLINE:
COL: Diego Rubio (caution; unsporting behavior) 40
HOU: Maynor Figueroa (caution; unsporting behavior) 59
COL: Benny Feilhaber (caution; unsporting behavior) 75
COL: Axel Sjöberg (caution; unsporting behavior) 87
HOU: A.J. DeLaGarza (caution; unsporting behavior) 88
COL: Tommy Smith (ejection; violent conduct) 89
HOU: Adam Lundkvist (caution; unsporting behavior) 90+2
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Marcos De Oliveira
Assistant Referee 1: Jose Da Silva
Assistant Referee 2: Eduardo Mariscal
Fourth Official: Tim Ford
VAR: Luis Guardia
Weather: 37 degrees, Cloudy
