Houston Dynamo FC fell 1-0 to Seattle Sounders FC on a rain-soaked night at Shell Energy Stadium, where kickoff was delayed by 30 minutes due to weather.
Despite the narrow loss, Houston created the better scoring opportunities throughout the match. The Dynamo finished with 13 shots, nine corner kicks, and a 1.4 expected goals (xG), compared to Seattle’s five shots, three corners, and 0.4 xG.
The match marked several notable milestones for Houston. Franco Negri made his first start for the club, while recently signed defender Sam Vines made his Dynamo debut. Forward Aliyu Ibrahim also reached a career milestone, making his 100th MLS appearance after entering late in the game.
Seattle found the breakthrough in the 83rd minute when Paul Rothrock scored from close range at the far post, securing the decisive goal.
Houston threatened early, nearly scoring in the ninth minute when Mateusz Bogusz fired from inside the box, only to see his effort blocked. Goalkeeper Jonathan Bond kept Houston level in the 21st minute with a quick low save to deny Jesus Ferreira.
Brazilian attacker Guilherme was a constant threat, forcing two saves from Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Thomas first in the 29th minute after a strong run into the box, and again early in the second half following a setup from Ezequiel Ponce.
Houston continued to push, with another close chance in the 65th minute when Bogusz tested Thomas with a diving effort after a well-timed run behind the defense. However, the Dynamo were unable to convert their chances, ultimately falling to a late Seattle goal.
Houston will look to bounce back on the road against the Colorado Rapids on April 11 at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park. The match will kick off at 8:30 p.m. CT and be available to stream on Apple TV.
