Houston Dynamo FC sends Charlotte FC home with 1-0 loss

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography     Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 29, 2024) Houston Dynamo FC continued their impressive run with a 1-0 win against Charlotte FC at Shell Energy Stadium, thanks to a quick goal by forward Aliyu Ibrahim (shown left).

The victory keeps the Dynamo undefeated in their last six matches, during which they have scored 14 goals. Ibrahim’s goal came in the fifth minute, marking his fifth of the season. The play began with a pass from forward Amine Bassi to Sebas Ferreira, who set up Ibrahim for the decisive shot.

Goalkeeper Steve Clark played a pivotal role in securing the win, making crucial saves throughout the match. His first big stop came in the eighth minute, blocking a strong attempt from Charlotte’s Kerwin Vargas. Clark ended the night with four saves, ensuring a fourth clean sheet for the team this season.

Clark stated after the match, "It's good to win at home, and we needed the points. We played one of our best games on the ball, and the guys performed really well tonight. It was a joy to watch, and I had a good seat for most of it."

Defender Franco Escobar earned a free kick in the 27th minute, giving captain Héctor Herrera a chance to score. Herrera’s shot was on target, but Charlotte’s goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina made the save. Clark was tested again in the 29th minute but handled the challenge easily.

Houston continued to press in the second half, with Griffin Dorsey nearly doubling the lead in the 48th minute. His shot, however, went just over the bar.

Charlotte tried to equalize, with their best chance coming in the 59th minute. Clark made a crucial save, deflecting the shot and then recovering the rebound. He made another significant save in the 75th minute, diving to stop a powerful shot from Liel Abada.

With this win, Houston Dynamo FC will head to Real Salt Lake for their next match on Wednesday, July 3. Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. CT at America First Field.