Houston Dynamo drop 2-1decision in Portland

The Houston Dynamo's Northwest futility continued in Portland on Wednesday night. The 2-1 decision extended Houston's winless streak at Providence Park to nine games. It was the third consecutive road outing including the quote unquote road bubble game in Orlando during the 2020 pandemic and fourth since 2018 that has ended 2-1.

The loss was not for lack of effort. The sense of urgency carried over from the 2-0 win against Chicago on Saturday beginning with Coco Carrasquillia rattling one off the frame in the 21st minute.

In fact, the first goal of the match was more a bit of bad luck as Houston was whistled for a foul inside the eighteen. The subsequent conversion was good and Portland led 1-0. Minutes later, Santiago Moreno, who converted the penalty kick, hit the back of the net and it was 2 nil. Houston has never won when chasing a match in the series.

The Dynamo came out strong and never relented outshooting Portland 24-11. It was perhaps their best performance at Providence Park against the Timbers in recent history.

"Overall, I think we're a better team from start to finish," said Dynamo head coach Paulo Nagamura following the match. "Pleased with the performance, disappointed with the result. I'm going to be very honest, even if we tie this game at the end there, I would be disappointed because I think what we did today here, I think we deserved the three points. That's soccer. We didn't finish our chances and we got punished." 

Darwin Quintero notched his team leading seventh goal to pull one back in the 65th minute. Rookie forward Thor Uhlfarrson garnered the assist. Uhlfarrson now as two goals and an assist in his last four matches. Quintero has scored in consecutive games for the first time this season.

Houston went up a man in the final quarter of play when Portland Timbers defender Bill Tuiloma was sent off for card accumulation. Dynamo forward Sebastian Ferreira nearly leveled the match in the 81st minute. when his right footed shot from just inside the eighteen hit the side netting. Portland blocked nine shots on the evening including one at the hour mark off the foot of Uhlfarrson from close range.

The Dynamo return to PNC Stadium Sunday July 3rd for a match with expansion side Charlotte FC. Kick-off is slated for 7:30pm CT.