Houston Dynamo FC and Seattle Sounders FC played to a 2-2 draw at Shell Energy Stadium tonight, with midfielder Latif Blessing scoring both goals for Houston.
The Dynamo have now netted nine goals in their last four matches, while Blessing has scored five times in his last five outings. This was the midfielder’s first two-goal performance since August 2019 with LAFC.
Earlier this week, Houston Dynamo announced the signing of forward Ezequiel Ponce from AEK Athens for a club-record transfer fee. Ponce has scored 65 goals across six top-flight leagues in South America and Europe, including stints in Argentina, Italy, Spain, France, Greece, and Russia.
During tonight’s match, Blessing opened the scoring in the 30th minute, capitalizing on a Seattle turnover. Forward Amine Bassi crossed from the right side of the six-yard box, and Blessing guided the ball home for his fourth goal of the season. The Ghanaian also scored an 89th-minute equalizer for the Dynamo in Atlanta on Saturday.
Blessing added his fifth goal of the season in the 39th minute, heading in a cross from Aliyu Ibrahim at the far post.
Seattle pulled one back in the 57th minute when Paul Rothrock won a loose ball in Houston’s final third. Goalkeeper Steve Clark saved Rothrock’s initial attempt, but the second attempt found the back of the net.
Seattle equalized in the 63rd minute when a free-kick delivery from Albert Rusnak to the far post found Jackson Ragen, who slotted the ball home.
Captain Héctor Herrera took a shot from deep in the 17th minute, but his low curling effort was saved by goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Defender Griffin Dorsey broke on a loose ball at the halfway line in the 53rd minute and charged into the penalty box, firing a shot just wide of the far post.
Houston almost regained the lead in the 65th minute when midfielder Artur fired a shot from outside the box, but his effort went just over the bar.
In the 75th minute, Bassi’s shot was blocked, and the rebound fell to forward Sebastian Kowalczyk, who forced a save from Frei.
Houston concludes the week with a road trip to D.C. United on Saturday, June 22, in what will be head coach Ben Olsen’s first match in the nation’s capital since departing in 2020.
