Houston Dynamo FC draws 2-2 against Seattle Sounders FC

HOUSTON (June 19, 2024) – Houston Dynamo FC and Seattle Sounders FC drew 2-2 at Shell Energy Stadium tonight in a match that included two goals from midfield Blessing Latif.

Dynamo have now scored nine goals in the last four matches, while Blessing has found the net five times in the last five matches. Tonight marked the midfielder’s first game scoring two goals since August 2019 with LAFC.

Earlier this week, Dynamo announced the signing of the striker Ezequiel Ponce from AEK Athens for a club record transfer fee. The striker has scored 65 goals in six different elite leagues in South America and Europe, including Argentina, Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Russia.

In tonight’s game, Blessing opened the scoring in the 30th minute as Houston took advantage of a Seattle turnover. Before Amine Bassi crossed the ball from the right side of the penalty area and Blessing guided the ball home for his fourth goal of the season. The Ghanaian also scored an 89th-minute equalizer for Dynamo in Atlanta on Saturday.

Blessing scored his fifth goal of the season in the 39th minute after a break Aliyou Ibrahim played a ball to the far post, where the midfielder headed the ball across the goal into the back of the net.

Seattle pulled within a goal in the 57th minute when Paul Rothrock won a loose ball in Houston’s final third. Goalie Steve Clark saved Rothrock’s first attempt, but the second attempt found the back of the net.

Seattle equalized in the 63rd minute when a free kick to the far post by Albert Rusnak found a waiting Jackson Ragen, who slotted the ball into the back of the net.

Captain Héctor Herrera took his chance from deep in the 17th minute, but his low curling shot was caught by goalkeeper Stefan Frei.

Defender Griffin Dorsey broke on a loose ball on the halfway line in the 53rd minute and rushed to the penalty box, firing a shot that went just wide of the far post.

Houston almost immediately regained the lead in the 65th minute when midfielder Arthur took a shot from outside the area, but his attempt went just over the bar.

Bassi shot in the 75th minute but it was blocked and the rebound fell forward. Sébastien Kowalczyk, which forced a save from Frei.

Houston finishes the week with a road trip to DC United on Saturday, June 22 in what will be head coach Ben Olsen’s first game in the nation’s capital since leaving in 2020.