On Sunday, November 3, Shell Energy Stadium was full to the brim with an optimistic, if somewhat tense, home crowd. El Battalon, Dynamo’s support band, marched through the halls as fans waited for a wave of heavy rain to pass, emitting a deafening war cry for the Houston Dynamo on the eve of their last chance to prevail against Seattle Sounders FC during the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Houston’s playoff stint began with a hurtle during Game 1 where Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla was removed from the match after referees claimed he showed violent conduct, leaving the Dynamo a man down for the remainder of the match.
Similarly, Game 2 saw Houston losing their star player and captain, Héctor Herrera, after he spat in the direction of a referee during a difficult call. In other words: Houston’s entire playoff effort was weakened by the actions of 2 senior players, leaving the team fighting uphill for the majority of it.
That’s not to say Game 2 wasn’t spectacular. The fans at Shell Energy Stadium got to see the best of the Dynamo as they played with the passion and urgency only a playoff match can deliver.
The match remained an even 0-0 for 87 minutes, when Seattle’s Cristian Roland finally scored giving the Sounders the lead. Then, just 6 minutes later, after some strategic replacements, Houston Dynamo aggressively drove the ball down the field ultimately producing an equalizing own goal in the 93rd minute.
A penalty shootout went for 7 kicks before Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei made a masterful save, despite diving the wrong direction, with his foot, blocking Tate Schmitt’s final attempt and ending the match. Seattle won (7)1–1(6), moving on in the playoffs.
(Photography by Abel Baque and Aaron Rodriguez)
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