Houston Dynamo FC secures draw against Austin FC

Photo courtesy of Houston Dynamo FC, Used with permission.

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

AUSTIN, TEXAS (August 9, 2025)  Houston Dynamo FC showed true fight on Saturday night, coming back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against state rival Austin FC at Q2 Stadium. Midfielder Jack McGlynn was the hero for Houston, scoring both goals, while goalkeeper Jonathan Bond made big saves to keep Houston in the match.

Austin took the lead in the 31st minute after Bond made a quick save, but the rebound fell to Ilie Sanchez, who finished from close range. The home side doubled their advantage in the 41st minute when Guilherme Biro headed in a cross from Osman Bukari.

The Dynamo kept pushing and finally found a way back in the 80th minute. VAR confirmed a foul on defender Pablo Ortiz inside the box, and McGlynn stepped up to score the penalty with a left-footed shot to the right side of the net.

Houston’s persistence paid off again in the 89th minute. Forward Lawrence Ennali, making his first assist for the club, set up McGlynn at the top of the box. His shot deflected off an Austin defender and rolled into the net for his fifth goal of the season.

Defender Antonio Carlos made his Dynamo debut, coming on at halftime. The 32-year-old joined Houston last week from Brazilian club Fluminense FC and has years of MLS experience with Orlando City SC, including a key role in their 2022 U.S. Open Cup win.

Houston created chances throughout the match. In the 17th minute, McGlynn set up Felipe Andrade for a header that Brad Stuver saved. Andrade tried again from distance in the 21st minute but was stopped by the Austin goalkeeper. In the 73rd minute, Griffin Dorsey found Ondrej Lingr for a clever back-heel flick that forced another save.

Bond also came up big in the 85th minute, racing off his line to block a Bukari shot.

Houston Dynamo FC falls to Austin FC at Shell Energy Stadium

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 (April 20, 2024) In a tough battle at Shell Energy Stadium, Houston Dynamo FC couldn't quite find their rhythm, falling 1-0 to Austin FC. It was a hard-fought match for the Dynamo, who were playing their first league game at home since March 2.

One notable moment of the game was the return of captain Hector Herrera, who made his season debut in the 62nd minute after recovering from a knee injury. His presence on the field provided a boost for the team, but unfortunately, they couldn't secure the win.

The match's only goal came in the 86th minute when Emiliano Rigoni of Austin FC capitalized on a long ball, slotting it neatly into the far corner past the Dynamo's goalkeeper

Despite the loss, the Dynamo had several opportunities throughout the game. Midfielder Artur had the first shot on target in the seventh minute, followed by forward Amine Bassi's attempt to set up midfielder Sebastian Kowalczyk, which was blocked by Austin's defense.

Goalkeeper Steve Clark made some crucial saves for the Dynamo, including stopping a low shot from Sebastian Driussi in the 14th minute and a powerful strike from Alexander Ring in the 22nd minute.

Houston pushed hard in the second half, with Bassi and Herrera both taking shots on goal, but Austin's defense held firm. The Dynamo attempted a total of 17 shots, the highest in a league match this season, but couldn't find the back of the net.

Next up for Houston is a road trip to face FC Dallas in the Texas Derby on Saturday, April 27, followed by a home game against St. Louis CITY SC on May 4. 

Late goal by Nkosi Tafari seals 1-0 victory for FC Dallas over Austin FC

By Chris Price
Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

FRISCO, TEXAS (August 27, 2023) In an exciting showdown under the Saturday night lights at Toyota Stadium, FC Dallas emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win against Austin FC. The game's decisive moment came in the 90+7minute, as Nkosi Tafari's header off Marco Farfan's cross found the back of the net, delighting the home fans.

The first half of the match was a tactical battle, with both teams carefully maintaining their formations and searching for openings. The action was tight, and opportunities were scarce. It was Austin FC's Alex Ring who managed to register the game's first shot on target, a low drive aimed at Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes. However, Paes was up to the challenge, keeping the score level.

As the second half got underway, the game began to open up, with both sides pushing harder for that all-important breakthrough. Austin FC's Owen Wolff tested Paes once again with a powerful attempt, hoping to break the deadlock. On the other end, Austin's goalkeeper Brad Stuver pulled off a remarkable save to deny Eugene Ansah, showcasing his shot-stopping skills.

However, the momentum took a shift when Austin FC found themselves down to 10 men after Dani Pereira received his second yellow card of the evening in the 67th minute. The numerical disadvantage made things even more challenging for the visitors, as they had to dig deep to keep Dallas at bay.

As the clock ticked down, Austin FC came agonizingly close to snatching victory in stoppage time. Jon Gallagher's shot took a deflection and hit the crossbar, leaving the fans on the edge of their seats. The near-miss was a testament to the team's fighting spirit, even when down to 10 men.

But it was FC Dallas who had the final say in this thrilling encounter. In the 97th minute, Marco Farfan delivered a precise cross into the box, and Nkosi Tafari rose above the defenders to guide a header into the net. The stadium erupted in cheers as Tafari's goal secured the three points for FC Dallas.

Houston Dynamo FC vs. Austin FC Highlights (June 24, 2023)

     Video courtesy of Houston Dynamo FC.

Houston Dynamo FC drops match 3-0 to Austin FC

Photo courtesy of Houston Dynamo FC

AUSTIN, TEXAS (June 24, 2023)  Houston Dynamo FC fell 3-0 on the road versus Austin FC earlier today to bring the club’s three-game winning streak, the longest since September 2020, to an end. Houston was held scoreless for the first time since Matchday 17 on June 3.

Austin took the lead in the 22^nd minute after a cross was played to the back post for Ethan Finlay. The home team doubled their lead in the 32^nd minute off a cross from Sebastián Driussi that found Gyasi Zardes at the far post.

 

The third goal of the match came in the 50^th minute after Daniel Pereira found Julio Cascante at the far post.

 

Austin’s first opportunity of the evening came in the 13^th minute following a long-range effort from Nick Lima. Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark was well positioned to handle the ball inside the box.

 

The Dynamo responded two minutes later after forward Amine Bassi switched play and found forward Nelson Quiñónes in space. The 20-year-old dribbled to the end line, but his cross was handled by the Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver.

 

The Austin backline denied Héctor Herrera in the 42^nd minute after the Dynamo captain dribbled into the box to create space for a shot. A pair of defenders blocked his effort from just outside the six-yard box. The midfielder ended the match with three shots.

 

Dynamo forward Thor Úlfarsson found Herrera inside the box in the 71^st minute but his header was saved at the near post by Stuver.

 

Forward Iván Franco dribbled and weaved his way through the box in the 74^th minute to create a window for a shot, but his attempt went just wide of the far post.

 

Herrera found midfielder Griffin Dorsey running up the left wing in the 91^st minute, who put the ball to Úlfarsson waiting at the top of the penalty box. The Icelandic attacker attempted to hit the cross first time but sent the shot just wide of the right post.

 

Herrera delivered a corner kick from the left side in the 94^th minute which fell to defender Franco Escobar. The Argentinian weaved his way to the right side of the penalty box, but his attempt was blocked by two Austin defenders.

 

Úlfarsson almost put Houston on the scoresheet in the final minute of the match with a free kick attempt at the top of the penalty box. The 22-year-old forced a diving, finger-tip save from Stuver, who sent the ball behind the endline off the crossbar.

 

The Dynamo next travel to face Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, July 1 at Lumen Field. Houston returns to Shell Energy Stadium on July 8 to host Sporting Kansas City.

Houston Dynamo FC downs in-state rival Austin 2-0

 

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography

Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 18, 2023) Two second half goals gave Houston Dynamo FC a lead that Austin FC was unable to and led Houston to a 2-0 win at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday night. The win gave Houston their second victory over Austin at home and their second win against theor in-state rival in the all-time series.

The first goal came in the 71st minute when forward Amine Bassi scored with a penalty spot as a results of the video assistant referee confirming that an Austin defender handled the ball with his arm inside the box. It was the first goal for the Dynamo from the French native.

The second Houston goal came 15 minutes later, in the 86th minute, when captain Hector Herrera switched the ball at the edge of the box. His pass to defender Griffin Dorsey created space for the captain to run between two defenders and beat the Austin shot stopper with a one-touch finish toward the near post.  

Head coach Ben Olsen stated in the post-game press conference:

“Almost as important it is to put up shutouts, so it's great all around. Defensively, we don't tell those guys enough. I felt Teenage (Hadebe) was really good, and Ethan (Bartlow) had his best game. I’m proud of those guys to keep a high, high scoring team off the board. For Hector (Herrera) to score a goal and to get on the board and also Bassi is a big deal one out of the run of play, you know, another set piece – PK. So all in all, good night, we're gonna enjoy it because it's our first one. It's nice to get that monkey off our back and then we're gonna get back to work and hopefully get better.” 

The win also gave Olsen his first victory with the Dynamo and further gave Houston their 186th win in regular season play and their 138th win in regular season play at home.

Herrera also was questioned after the game about the changes in the second half. He stated:

“I thought we did a good job of controlling the match. They nearly scored a goal and that is what makes us lose a lot of games. At the half we knew that we were managing the game correctly. We also needed to increase the intensity and energy to get the result we wanted. We came out in the second half with that mentality, and we took advantage from that point on. We could have scored more transition goals.” 

The win raises the Dynamo's record to 1-2 for the season before a Saturday, March 25 match at home against New York City FC (2-1-1).

Readers may click here to view photos from the match by Darla Tamulitis of La Vita Loca Photography.

Houston Dynamo FC defeat Austin FC 3-2 in La Copita opener

Photo by
Paul-Michael Ochoa
and provided by Houston Dynamo FC
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved
Used with permission

AUSTIN, TEXAS (April 3, 2021)  Houston Dynamo FC defeated Austin FC 3-2 at St. David’s Performance Center earlier today in the opening game of the La Copita preseason tournament for both teams. Houston scored three times in the second half to improve to 5-0-0 overall this preseason and 1-0-0 in La Copita. 

 

Houston scored the game-winning goal in the 71st minute after forward Maxi Urruti launched a long diagonal pass down the left sideline. Speedy Dynamo forward Fafa Picault (shown above right) raced past defender Julio Cascante to force a one-on-one opportunity with the Austin goalkeeper and score his second goal of the match. 

 

Austin took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a well-placed free kick from midfielder Tomás Pochettino in the 16th minute, but Houston equalized in the 54th minute after Picault capitalized on a loose ball inside the box that unbalanced the Austin backline. The forward took a touch toward the near post to create space for a shot that crawled toward the far post. 

 

Houston took the lead two minutes later after midfielder Matías Vera chipped in a ball to Urruti. The ball floated over an Austin defender to the Argentine forward, who spun on his left foot and laced a right-footed side volley into the back of the net with his first touch. 

 

Austin scored their second and final goal of the game in the 66th minute after a rebound off of a save from Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Marić. The Croatian saved Alex Ring’s initial effort from distance, but the ball fell into the path of an oncoming Rodney Redes, who headed the ball into the back of the net.  

 

Maric finished with five saves in his first preseason game against an MLS opponent, including a big save in the final 10 minutes to deny Austin forward Jon Gallagher in a one-on-one situation at close range and preserve the win. 

 

Midfielder Memo Rodriguez scored the only goal in a 30-minute scrimmage that followed the first contest of the day. The scrimmage also featured Homegrown player Daniel Rios and two Dynamo Academy players, Jathan Juarez and Kieran Sargent. 

 

The Dynamo host OKC Energy in La Copita action at 12:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday, March 6 at Aveva Stadium. The preseason game is free and open to the public, additional information is available at HoustonDynamoFC.com.  

Austin FC signs Kekuta Manneh to inaugural roster

Photo provided by
Austin FC
Used with permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

AUSTIN, TEXAS (January 23, 2021) Former Lone Star Scocer Club and Austin Aztex player Kekuta Manneh (shown left) has been signed by Austin FC as the  23^rd addition to the club’s roster, which begins play in 2021.

The Gambian native has played 163 games in Major League Soccer; including stints with New England Revolution, Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In addition, he also saw action with FC St. Gallen in Switzerland and C.F. Pachuca in Mexico from 2017 to 2019.

He stated, in a prepared press release for the club:

“I am really excited to be joining Austin FC and can’t wait to give everything I have for the Club and for this city This city gave me everything when I first arrived in this country and I want to be able to give back.”

 Austin FC Sporting Director, Claudio Reyna added:

 “We would like to welcome Kekuta to our growing roster. He is coming home to Austin. He brings with him strong MLS experience, adding depth and knowledge of our League to Austin FC, and we look forward to having him join his teammates and coaching staff very soon.”

AUSTIN FC ACQUIRES SPORTING KANSAS CITY CAPTAIN MATT BESLER VIA FREE AGENCY

AUSTIN, TEXAS (January 6, 2021)  Austin FC, the 27^th club in Major League Soccer (MLS), announced today that the Club has acquired free agent defender and former Sporting Kansas City Captain Matt Besler. Per League and Club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Besler, a five-time MLS All-Star and 2014 FIFA World Cup performer, becomes Austin FC’s 17th acquisition ahead of the Club’s inaugural season in 2021.

 

“We are pleased to add a proven defender to the squad that fits the profile we are looking for in a player. Matt’s unique blend of  leadership and competitive experience is valuable combination of strengths, and we are excited to have him continue his career in Austin,” commented Austin FC Sporting Director, Claudio Reyna. “We welcome Matt to Austin and look forward to his many contributions to the Club.”

 

“I’m ecstatic about this opportunity,” said Besler. “After playing in MLS for so many years, I can’t help but feel excited to join an ambitious project with Austin FC. I’ve seen amazing things from Austin’s fanbase already, and I truly look forward to playing in front of them.”

 

Besler (pronounced BEEZ-ler) joins Austin FC after playing 12 consecutive seasons with Sporting Kansas City (2009-20), where he led the club to one (1) MLS Cup championship (2013) and three (3) Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles (2012, 2015, 2017). The five-time MLS All-Star (2011, 2013-16) was appointed Captain of Sporting KC in 2014 and is the first player in Club history to record 348 appearances (337 starts) across all competitions, while leading the Club in regular-season appearances (294) and starts (285). Besler has made 18 appearances (18 starts) in the MLS postseason, 20 appearances (18 starts) in USOC play and 16 appearances (16 starts) across CONCACAF Champions League and SuperLiga competitions.  

 

The native of Overland Park, Kansas earned MLS Best XI honors twice (2012-13). Besler was also named MLS Defender of the Year and MLS Breakout Player of the Year in 2012 after being selected in the 1^st Round (#8) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft from the University of Notre Dame, where he received All-American and Academic All-American honors as a senior.

 

Internationally, Besler has represented the United States Men’s National Team 47 times (44 starts) since debuting in January 29, 2013. Besler was part of the U.S. squad that won the 2013 and 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup titles. Besler, who becomes the first Austin FC rostered player to have featured in a FIFA World Cup, played in all four (4) USMNT matches (four (4) starts) at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, helping the U.S. advance to the Round of 16 in the tournament. Additionally, Besler represented the U.S. in the 2017 CONCACAF Confederations Cup and the 2016 CONMEBOL Copa América Centenario.

AUSTIN FC ACQUIRES 25-YEAR-OLD FREE AGENT MIDFIELDER DIEGO FAGUNDEZ

Photo courtesy of 
Paul-Michael Ochoa,
Major League Soccer, and Austin FC
Used with permission

AUSTIN, TEXAS (January 5, 2021)  Austin FC, the 27^th club in Major League Soccer (MLS), announced today the signing of 25-year-old free agent midfielder Diego Fagundez (shown right). Per League and Club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Fagundez becomes Austin FC's 16th acquisition ahead of the Club's inaugural season in 2021. 

 

“Diego is a player in the prime of his career who has scored over 50 goals, played over 250 matches and comes with significant MLS experience. We are fortunate to bring a 25-year-old with vast and proven experience to the Club,” commented Austin FC Sporting Director, Claudio Reyna. “Diego has played in a number of positions throughout his career and his dynamic positional flexibility is a strength that Austin FC will have the opportunity to benefit from.”

 

“I’m excited to start this new chapter in my career, alongside a Club creating a new chapter for an amazing city like Austin,” said Fagundez. “I am ready and motivated to represent Austin FC next season, and I look forward to giving my best for the Club.”

 

Fagundez, who grew up in Leominster, MA, joins Austin FC after spending the entirety of his career with the New England Revolution (2011-20), where he played 265 league games (189 starts), tying a Revolution record for appearances while scoring 53 goals (second highest in Revolution history) and tallying 45 assists. Fagundez became the youngest player to reach 100 appearances in MLS history on June 13, 2015 (20 years and 119-days-old) in a 2-0 win against the Chicago Fire, and the youngest player to score 25 goals in the League after scoring in a 1-0 road win against the Philadelphia Union on August 29, 2015 at the age of 20 years and 196 days. Fagundez has also registered 15 appearances (12 starts) in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup between 2012-19.
 

The experienced midfielder signed as a Homegrown Player with New England at the age of 15 in 2010 and debuted professionally in MLS as a 16-year-old the following year, making a substitute appearance against Chivas USA on August 6, 2011. Fagundez, who was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, made four (4) appearances (two (2) starts) with the U-20 Uruguay National Team during the 2015 Campeonato Sudamericano Sub-20, helping the country qualify for its 12^th U-20 FIFA World Cup.  

 

Fagundez was eligible for MLS free agency ahead of the 2021 season after qualifying under the new League free agency rules which allow an existing MLS player who is at least 24-years-old with five (5) years of MLS experience to explore free agency if they are out-of-contract.