Dynamo eliminated Austin FC in their home opener
A crowd of more than 19,000 turned out Saturday night for the 2023 Houston Dynamo home opener inside the renovated Shell Energy Stadium, braving the cooler weather conditions.
The support for the hosts was immense. The loudest applauses went to Amine Bassi and Héctor Herrera. The pair scored Houston’s goals in a 2-0 win over Austin FC, the Dynamo’s first win in three attempts this season.
Steve Clark earned a clean sheet, picking up four saves.
Bassi scores from a penalty in the 71st minute. Herrera scored in the 86th minute.
Following a video review, former Dynamo defender Adam Lundkvist received the yellow card for a handball in the penalty area in the 70th minute.
Bassi converted the penalty with a right foot into the center of the goal out of Brad Stuver’s reach, only for Houston’s second goal of the season (1-2-0).
Houston didn’t take long to score his third goal of 2023. Herrera’s left footed shot from the center of the box found the bottom right corner. Griffin Dorsey assisted during the game.
Houston beat Austin 15-13, 7-4 on goal. Stuver saved five shots.
Towards the end of the first half Herrera and Bassi forced Stuver’s saves.
In the 42nd minute, Herrera’s right-footed shot from outside the area was grabbed by Stuver under the crossbar. Two minutes later Stuver stops Bassi’s right foot from the left of the area.
Playing in his first home game representing Houston, Bassi was brought in early. The midfielder missed an attempt in the second minute from the left of the area, going high and wide.
Following an assist from Jon Gallagher, Austin’s Maximiliano Urruti hit the right post with a header from the center of the box in the 12th minute.
Houston returned to MLS play after a two-week hiatus. Last week’s open date followed a 3-0 loss at New England on March 4.
Austin (2-2-0) was playing his fourth game in two weeks thanks to his participation in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Saturday was the first of three matches between the clubs and the first of two inside Shell Energy Stadium this season. The game did not count towards the 2023 Copa Tejas standings given the odd number of games to be played between Houston, Austin and Dallas on the MLS schedule this season.
