HOUSTON—The Houston Dynamo kicked off the Major League Soccer season against long-time in-state rival FC Dallas on a cold, gloomy, rainy Saturday night. Houston took an early lead in the first half but conceded twice in the second half, leading to a 2-1 loss and bragging rights for the moment.
After the loss, Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen’s message was firm. Considering how his team played tonight, a 1-0 win was theirs for the taking.
“That’s the reality,” said Olsen. “We got the goal, and we’re a good enough defensive team to see that game out.”
Olsen’s words are warranted. Houston entered the second half with a 1-0 goal lead and having had the better of the two sides up to that point.
While both played a conservative first half due to the slick weather and being the first game of the season, there were moments in the first half where the Dynamo showcased what they’re capable of on the attack and how new Dynamo midfielder Jack McGlynn will fit on this team.
In the 17th minute, Houston scored the game’s opener after stringing 16 consecutive passes together — with McGlynn’s switch of play pass to Dorsey playing a large role — leading to an Amine Bassi header.
Amine Bassi gives @HoustonDynamo their first goal of the season! 🏹
📺 #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/2bwH1GB9sU pic.twitter.com/8X4zEc4vFC
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 23, 2025
Houston’s demise in the second half was self-inflicted. At least the first FC Dallas goal. In the 54th minute, Ethan Barthlow’s intended pass in the backfield was intercepted relatively easily by FC Dallas striker Petar Musa. The Croatian forward slotted his shot past Dynamo goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell to equalize the game.
The second FC Dallas goal came in the 76th minute after a collision involving McGlynn outside Houston’s box led to a counterattack goal from FC Dallas forward Anderson Julio.
Debut goal? Debut goal! ⚽️
Anderson Julio notches his first for @FCDallas. pic.twitter.com/PFknXDZ8Qn
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 23, 2025
“Unfortunately, I thought we gave it to them too easy tonight, and that’s gonna sting,” said Olsen.
The Dynamo underwent a roster turnover from the team that reached the Western Conference Finals and won the U.S. Open Cup two seasons ago. Gone are former starting lineup mainstays midfielders Hector Herrera and Coco Carasquilla, goalkeeper Steve Clark, and center-back Micael. To boot, center-back Erik Sviatchenko is on the injury list, leading to Femi Awodesu’s MLS debut.
Olsen acknowledged that it will take Houston time to get this version of the team to play how it needs to.
“The reality is this is going to be an interesting first couple of weeks to a month until we kind of figure out who this new group is,” said Olsen. “It needs time, and unfortunately, as you’re doing that, you will have moments that don’t work out.”
Jesus Acevedo Jr. is the Editor-in-Chief of The Bayoucitian. He’s an award-winning bilingual journalist from Houston, TX. A graduate of the University of Houston, he has written for the Houston Chronicle, La Voz de Houston, MLSsoccer.com, and ProSoccerUSA.
Before becoming a journalist, Jesus spent his early 20s drumming his way across Houston with two bands — Shortcomings and InsertNameHere. The memories that Jesus made as a musician were the seeds that started the idea for the comedy, Houmans: The Series.