Winless streak stretches to 15 games

Despite fourth-fastest goal in club history, first victory since May 22 remains elusive

It just keeps getting uglier for the Dynamo.

Scoring a goal in the first minute wasn’t nearly enough Saturday night as Houston fell to Minnesota United FC 2-1 at BBVA Stadium.

Adrien Hunou scored twice for Minnesota — once in each half — to send the Dynamo spiraling to a 15th consecutive game without a win.

During the early part of the streak, Houston (3-9-10, 19 points) tried to find positives in the fact that many of the results had been ties. The Dynamo don’t even have that anymore, as five of their past six games have ended in losses. Their last win came May 22.

Houston played Saturday’s game without head coach Tab Ramos, who was in New Jersey tending to a family emergency. Assistant coach Omid Namazi was the acting head coach.

Before the game, Ramos said he intended to watch the game on television and be in constant contact with the technical staff throughout.

Minnesota’s winning goal came on a play in the 73rd minute that started with a throw-in. Minnesota striker Fanendo Adi jostled for possession with Dynamo centerback Teenage Hadebe and eventually hit a blind backheel pass into the penalty area for Ethan Finlay.

Finlay kept his balance and slid a pass to Hunou, who was cutting diagonally toward the ball. On his first touch, Hunou shot into the goal at the far post.

Hunou’s first goal leveled the score in the 16th minute.

Will Trapp served a long free kick to the left post, and Finlay got on the end of it. Finlay hit it low through the 6-yard box to Hunou, who was all alone for an easy finish.

The Dynamo started faster than they have all season thanks to a goal by Adalberto Carrasquilla in the first minute.

Playing in his fifth game since signing with the Dynamo in early August, Carrasquilla kept a Dynamo attack going when he beat Minnesota right back Romain Metanire to a header in the middle of the field.

Carrasquilla headed it forward to winger Fafa Picault, who had oceans of space thanks to Metanire vacating that part of the field. Picault crossed it low toward the penalty spot, and Carrasquilla got to it first.

He let the ball roll onto his right foot for his shot, and it deflected off a defender into the goal at the near post to give the Dynamo the lead 56 seconds into the game.

It was the fourth-fastest goal in club history. The last time the Dynamo scored in the first minute was on July 5, 2017, when Andrew Wenger scored in 52 seconds against the Montreal Impact.

But it wasn’t enough. Saturday’s game featured the return of winger Tyler Pasher from a four-game injury absence. He subbed in midway through the second half.

The Dynamo had some local flavor in the starting lineup with goalkeeper Michael Nelson making his MLS debut. Nelson is a graduate of Katy Seven Lakes High School who has been with the Dynamo since being drafted in 2018.

Nelson took the place of regular goalkeeper Marko Maric, who missed the game with a left leg injury.