Houston Dynamo FC dominates Colorado Rapids with impressive 5-1 victory

Credit: Houston Dynamo FC, Used with permission

By Chris Price
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 7, 2023)  In an exciting soccer showdown, the Houston Dynamo FC displayed their strength by defeating the Colorado Rapids with a commanding score of 5-1 at Shell Energy Stadium. This thrilling win not only brought joy to their fans but also secured their spot to host an Audi MLS Cup Playoff match, setting the stage for an electrifying atmosphere for soccer enthusiasts.

This season, the Houston Dynamo FC has been nothing short of impressive when playing on their home turf. They've notched an impressive record of 15 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses in all competitions. This remarkable performance has catapulted them into a position where they could finish as high as fourth in the fiercely competitive Western Conference standings.

The Dynamo's recent run of success has been nothing short of remarkable, boasting a record of 7 wins, 1 draw, and 4 losses in all competitions since returning to MLS play after the Leagues Cup on August 20. During this incredible stretch, they've outscored their opponents by a stunning margin of 27-8.

The Dynamo didn't waste any time asserting their dominance in the match. In just the third minute, defender Erik Sviatchenko and captain Héctor Herrera combined brilliantly with a one-two sequence at the edge of the box. The ball was then played wide to defender Griffin Dorsey, who spotted forward Nelson Quiñónes unmarked at the far post, allowing Quiñónes to notch his fourth goal of the year.

Five minutes later, the Dynamo doubled their lead when midfielder Adalberto "Coco" Carrasquilla played a perfectly placed ball over the top to Corey Baird. Baird, in turn, found fellow attacker Amine Bassi at the opposite post, resulting in the second goal of the first half and Bassi's impressive 10th goal of the season.

Quiñónes continued to shine, scoring his second goal of the evening in the 28th minute with a spectacular long-range effort from outside the box. This marked the 21-year-old's first brace for the Dynamo and added to the team's growing lead.

Baird further solidified his performance in the 41st minute, tallying the fourth goal of the evening. This goal came following a swift counterattack led by Carrasquilla, who skillfully played the ball wide to Baird. With this goal, Baird equaled his single-season goal record from his rookie season with Real Salt Lake in 2018.

The match featured a remarkable moment for Houston as it marked the second time this season that the Dynamo scored four goals in a single half, harkening back to their dominant performance against Portland on August 20.

Although the Rapids managed to prevent a clean sheet in the 53rd minute, courtesy of a goal by Cole Bassett, Houston responded with a fifth goal in the 84th minute. Bassi showcased his skills yet again, finding midfielder Artur with a pinpoint chip at the back post. The Brazilian didn't miss a beat, burying the ball into the far corner and securing his second goal of the season.