Early advantage squandered
Sebastian Driussi scored his MLS-leading seventh goal of the season — finding the net in the 66th minute — as Austin FC handed the Dynamo their first home loss of the season, 2-1 on Saturday.
Sebastian Ferreira staked the Dynamo (33-3) to a 1-0 lead at PNC Stadium in the fifth minute when he scored from near midfield after catching goalkeeper Brad Stuver off his line.
Stuver was injured on the save attempt when he crashed into the back of the net. He left the match on a stretcher.
Ferreira’s blast from 61 yards out represented the longest goal scored in Major League Soccer since 2019. The goal was Ferreira’s fourth in the last four matches and was also the earliest goal that the Dynamo have scored this season.
Midfielder Darwin Quintero had Houston’s best chance to double the lead in the 21st minute, as he received the ball just above the 18-yard-box, took one dribble and unleashed a rocket of a shot that was on target but was blocked by Austin backup goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, who came in as a substitute when Stuver went off after Ferreira’s goal.
Austin (6-1-2) pulled even in the 39th minute when Dani Pereira took a crossing pass from Ethan Finlay and finished for his first career MLS goal.
Diego Fagundez and Julio Cascante picked up assists on Driussi’s gamewinner.
Both Austin and the Dynamo had eight shots. Houston had a 6-5 edge in shots on goal.
Tarbell saved all five shots he faced in relief of Stuver. Steve Clark saved three of the five shots he faced for the Dynamo, including a diving effort at the end of the first half to send the teams into intermission level.
Recently signed winger out of Brazil Thiago came on in the 77th minute to make his Dynamo debut.
The Dynamo’s next match will be on the road against D.C. United next Saturday at 6:30 p.m.