Match against Union offers chance at redemption

After 80 minutes, it looked as though the Dynamo had earned the victory at Yankee Stadium, up by one on the scoreboard and down by one on the field against New York City FC on Thursday.

But over the next 10 minutes of regulation plus another six of stoppage time, NYC FC midfielder Valentín Castellanos struck twice to snatch the win and stifle the Dynamo’s attempt to jumpstart a late-season playoff push.

The Dynamo (9-12-3, 30 points) returns to the pitch Sunday when they play the Philadelphia Union (12-7-6, 42 points) at Chester, Pa.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the points, but no matter what, the team did (its) best. We ran and we tried to play, but we couldn’t get the results,” said midfielder Juan David Cabezas, who scored the Dynamo’s first goal against New York. “The reality is really sad because, for me personally, we deserved the win.”

The result wasn’t the only disappointment for coach Wilmer Cabrera.

Barely two weeks after forward Alberth Elis was handed a two-game suspension for a questionable red card against Atlanta United, the Dynamo will lose forward Romell Quioto for Sunday’s match after his dismissal in the 29th minute against NYCFC.

The moment unfolded when NYC FC’s Ronald Matarrita jabbed Quioto with his shoulder; seemingly to create space for his teammate to repossess a loose ball. Quioto rebelled by — what appeared to be — punching Matarrita’s face.

“We cannot tolerate that. It will not happen again because that is against the game,” Cabrera said. “We came to play soccer. We did not come to fight and be superheroes.”

At this point in the season, Cabrera might be hopUnion. ing he had one, though.

The Dynamo has earned only seven points in their last 12 matches and only six points (two wins) on the road all season.

Still, the ninth-place Dynamo are only three points out of the seventh and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Additionally, the Dynamo recently bolstered their roster with the acquisition of versatile defender Jose Bizama. Two recent trade additions — forwards Christian Ramirez and Niko Hansen — are expected to be available for the game against the “We need points,” midfielder Tommy McNamara said after Thursday’s loss. “We are right there in the playoff hunt, but obviously we’re on the outside looking in. We can’t shoot ourselves in the foot, unfortunately we did that today.

“It is what it is. We’ve got to move past (Thursday’s defeat), and we’ve got to get focused and ready for Sunday. We need to take something away from these two road games.”