The Houston Dynamo extended their winning streak to four match, coming within one of the all-time club record, with a 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday afternoon at BBVA Compass Stadium.
After a scoreless first half in which each team was unable to finish its chances, the match was delayed by 70 minutes at halftime due to lightning in the vicinity of the stadium. After the break, the match opened up as the teams combined for three goals in the first 15 minutes of the second period.
Captain Boniek García made his 200th appearance in all competitions for the Dynamo, becoming just the seventh player in club history to play in at least 200 competitive matches.
Houston took the lead in the 52nd minute with a classic Dynamo counterattack that began deep in Houston’s end of the field after a clearance fell to forward Alberth Elis. La Pantera raced past a San Jose defender and into the Quakes end of the field before finding forward Mauro Manotas along the top of the box. The Colombian international slipped in a return ball to Elis, who had continued his run into the area, for his third goal in as many games.
The Earthquakes equalized six minutes later after Elis was brought down inside the box. Houston’s penalty shout was denied and the ball was cleared by San Jose to Shea Salinas at midfield. The Quakes captain found midfielder Jackson Yueill outside the box and he curled a shot inside the far post for his first goal of the season.
Houston took the lead in the 60th minute after a San Jose defender blocked Manotas’ shot inside the box. The ball fell to midfielder Tomas Martínez, who notched his first goal of the season with a first-time shot off his favored left foot. Elis was the danger man once again, driving into the San Jose penalty area before feeing Manotas.
Houston appeared to have scored in the 10th minute when forward Marlon Hairston, making his 100th appearance, neatly finished a chance inside the penalty area but was deemed to be offside prior to his shot.
Manotas found Elis near the penalty spot in the sixth minute to force the first save of the game. The Honduran international was denied at the near post by San Jose goalkeeper Daniel Vega.
Houston would force a last-ditch clearance minutes later after Garcia foundHairston at the near post. The forward’s header was on target but cleared by a San Jose defender. This was Garcia’s 200th appearance for the Dynamo across all competitions.
Hairston was called offside on the would-be opening goal after he ran onto a through ball from Manotas in the 10th minute. Ten minutes later, defender Maynor Figueroa was denied by the crossbar with a menacing shot from outside the box.
Houston was once again denied their opening goal in the 34th minute after Martínez was brought down inside the box and drew a penalty. Manotas’ spot kick bounced off the left post. Manotas put away the rebound, but he was the first player to touch the ball which made his goal inadmissable.
The Dynamo travel to California next week as they face the LA Galaxy at 10 p.m. on Friday, April 19 on UniMás. Houston returns to BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday, April 27 to host Columbus Crew SC for the club’s inaugural End Cancer Night, presented by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Tickets for the match are on sale now, starting at $24, at HoustonDynamo.com or by phone at 713-276-4625 (GOAL).
Houston Dynamo (4-0-1; 13 pts.) 2-1 San Jose Earthquakes (1-5-0; 3 pts.)
MLS Regular Season, Week 7
Saturday, April 13, 2019
BBVA Compass Stadium – Houston, Texas
Attendance: 14,476
SCORING SUMMARY:
HOU: Alberth Elis 3 (Mauro Manotas 3) 52
SJ: Jackson Yueill 1 (Shea Salinas 1) 56
HOU: Tomas Martinez 1 (unassisted) 60
LINEUPS:
Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; Adam Lundkvist, Maynor Figueroa, Aljaž Struna, A.J. DeLaGarza; Matías Vera (Juan David Cabezas 89), Boniek García ©, Tomás Martínez (Darwin Cerén 80); Marlon Hairston (Tommy McNamara 64), Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis
Substitutes not used: Tyler Deric, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Kevin Garcia, Chris Duvall
Total shots: 17 (Alberth Elis 5); Shots on goal: 6 (Alberth Elis 3); Fouls: 21 (Alberth Elis, Tomás Martínez 4); Offside: 1 (Marlon Hairston 1); Corner kicks: 4 (Adam Lundkvist 3); Saves: 4 (Joe Willis 4)
San Jose Earthquakes: Daniel Vega; Tommy Thompson (Nick Lima 88), Harold Cummings, Florian Jungwirth, Marcos Lopez; Anibal Godoy, Cristian Espinoza, Jackson Yueill (Chris Wondolowski 70), Magnus Eriksson, Shea Salinas (Valeri Qazaishvili 59); Danny Hoesen
Substitutes not used: Andrew Tarbell, Francois Affolter, Eric Calvillo, Luis Felipe Fernandez
Total shots: 15 (Danny Hoesen 4); Shots on goal: 5 (Jackson Yueill 2); Fouls: 18 (Anibal Godoy, Marcós Lopez 4); Offside: 1 (Danny Hoesen 1); Corner kicks: 6 (Magnus Eriksson 3); Saves: 4 (Daniel Vega 4)
DISCIPLINE:
SJ: Tommy Thompson (caution; foul) 28
HOU: Maynor Figueroa (caution; handball) 31
SJ: Anibal Godoy (caution; foul) 34
HOU: Alberth Elis (caution; celebration) 53
HOU: Adam Lundkvist (caution; time wasting) 69
SJ: Marcos López (ejection; serious foul) 87
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Garner
Assistant Referee 2: Ian McKay
Fourth Official: Alejandro Mariscal
VAR: Caleb Mendez
Weather: 76 degrees, Thunderstorms
