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| Photo courtesy of Houston Dynamo FC |
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HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 21, 2023) In a thrilling match on Decision Day, the Houston Dynamo FC clinched a fantastic 3-1 win against the Portland Timbers FC at Providence Park on Saturday. The victory not only capped off their regular season on a high note but also secured them homefield advantage in the Round One Best-of-3 series against Real Salt Lake.
For the Dynamo, this win held special significance. It marked the first time they had earned a point from a visit to Providence Park since 2015. Their last regular season victory in Portland dated all the way back to the 2011 campaign. It was a sweet moment for the Dynamo players and their dedicated fans.
The action started early, with Houston taking the lead in the 11th minute. Defender Griffin Dorsey made a crucial clearance at the far post, leading to a corner kick. Captain Hector Herrera delivered a perfect cross that found Dorsey at the near post, opening the scoring. This goal was Dorsey's second of the season and marked Herrera's 16th assist of the MLS campaign.
The Dynamo extended their lead to 2-0 in the 49th minute when midfielder Adalberto "Coco" Carrasquilla seized an opportunity in the box and found the back of the net. Carrasquilla, who is an international player from Panama, celebrated his third goal of the season.
Dorsey wasn't done making an impact. In the 72nd minute, he scored his second goal of the night, putting the game out of reach for Portland. Herrera played a key role in the build-up, setting up Carrasquilla, who then delivered the ball to Dorsey. This goal completed Dorsey's first professional brace, and Herrera's involvement earned him his 17th assist of the season, breaking the club record for the most assists in a single season. The previous record was held by Brad Davis, who finished with 16 assists in 2011.
Portland managed to pull one back in the 80th minute when forward Felipe Mora found a way to get a shot past Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark. Clark had an impressive game, making several crucial saves, including one in the fifth minute to deny a free kick.
The Dynamo had numerous opportunities to increase their lead, with forward Amine Bassi coming close in the 14th minute and midfielder Artur making a vital stop to deny Yimmi Chara's attempt in the 19th minute. The Dynamo had a goal ruled offside in the 26th minute when Corey Baird found the back of the net following a save from Nelson Quiñónes. Clark made another important save in the 30th minute to keep the Dynamo in the lead.
With this win, the Houston Dynamo FC secured fourth place in the Western Conference with a 14-11-9 record, earning them homefield advantage in the upcoming Round One Best-of-3 series against Real Salt Lake.
This season has been a remarkable one for the Dynamo, with the team achieving success on multiple fronts. They clinched the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship last month and qualified for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. This is the first time they have competed in the regional tournament since 2019. Additionally, the Dynamo reached the Round of 16 in the inaugural League's Cup earlier this year, defeating strong Mexican teams like CF Pachuca and Santos Laguna.
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