Houston Dynamo put on a dominant display from start to finish at Shell Energy Stadium against Portland Timbers winning 5-0 on the night and head coach Ben Olsen couldn’t have been happier with his team’s performance.
Before the Western Conference clash between Houston and Portland, the last time Olsen’s side scored more than two goals in MLS was on June 21, when the Dynamo throttled San Jose Earthquakes 4-1.
Houston are having a quiet yet solid season in Olsen’s first year, currently sitting in sixth place in the Western Conference table with 32 points from 24 games. Scoring five unanswered goals also helped their goal differential cause, as they now have netted 31 times in the league while conceding 31 – bringing their difference to zero.
Amine Bassi, who’s the highest goalscorer in 2023 for Houston with nine goals, opened the scoring with a converted penalty kick in the fifth minute and the home side didn’t look back from that point on.
“I think sometimes, here in the elements, it’s deflating [for the away side],” Olsen stated following the game. “I’ve been on the other end. I’ve come here in this type of heat, and it hurts…so I think that is always the goal here at home, to be aggressive and try to get on the scoreboard early.”
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The win was the ninth victory in 2023 for the Dynamo and they’ll be looking to rack up more victories to ensure a strong position in the West ahead of the postseason.
“At home, in particular in these elements, if you can get on a team and have some success, then it’s deflating for the opponent, because it makes it that much more of a hill to climb for them,” the former DC United head coach added.
Houston are back in action against Western Conference foes Real Salt Lake in the US Open Cup semi-finals on August 23 at Shell Energy Stadium.
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