The Houston Dynamo bounced back in emphatic fashion, defeating El Paso Locomotive 4-1 to advance to the Round of 16 in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Shell Energy Stadium.
Houston struck early, with Ondřej Lingr opening the scoring in the second minute with a stunning bicycle kick. Lingr delivered a standout performance in his first start of the season, finishing with a goal and two assists.
El Paso’s challenge became even tougher after Kofi Twumasi was sent off in the 25th minute, leaving the visitors down a man. Despite the advantage, Houston struggled to find rhythm in the first half, prompting criticism from head coach Ben Olsen.
The Dynamo responded immediately after halftime, as Mateusz Bogusz scored seconds into the second half to double the lead. Nicholas Markanich added a third goal before former Dynamo player Beto Avila pulled one back for El Paso in the 75th minute.
Ezequiel Ponce sealed the 4-1 victory with a late header, capping a strong rebound performance after Houston’s heavy loss in their previous match. The Dynamo now move on to face Louisville City FC in the next round.
