Atlanta United Draws Houston Dynamo 2-2

June 15, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release

Atlanta United on the field
(Atlanta United FC)

ATLANTA – Atlanta United played to a 2-2 draw vs. Houston Dynamo Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Daniel Ríos scored an equalizer in the first half while Xande Silva gave Atlanta the lead in the second half, but Houston found a late goal to split the points.

The Dynamo got off the mark early and took the lead in the fifth minute. Atlanta conceded a corner kick which Houston’s Hector Herrera delivered to the near post. Griffin Dorsey flicked a shot toward goal that ricocheted off the crossbar and fell to Franco Escobar on the far side. Escobar placed a lunging header across goal and into the net to hand the visitors the lead.

Luke Brennan entered the match in the 18th minute to replace an injured Edwin Mosquera and provided a spark in the attack. Atlanta leveled the match in the 25th minute on a play that began with Ríos forcing a turnover while pressing Houston’s backline just outside of its own 18-yard box. The Mexican forward dribbled into the penalty area and was quickly closed down by a pair of defenders, but he back heeled the ball to an overlapping Brennan. The Homegrown winger first-timed a cross to the near post for Thiago Almada inside the six-yard box, but his attempt was saved by goalkeeper Steve Clark. The ball rolled back to a wide open Ríos in the middle of the box where he buried the equalizer for his second goal of the season.

A energized start to the second half saw Atlanta nearly take the lead in the 54th minute from a set piece. Almada delivered a free kick from the right wing into the box where Dax McCarty flicked it to the back post for Derrick Williams. The center back was positioned well, but his shot from inside the six-yard box was denied by Clark and went out for a throw on the right side.

Atlanta continued to push and took the lead following the throw-in. Almada received the ball and found Caleb Wiley in the middle of the field, who worked the ball over to Silva on the left wing. Silva split a pair of defenders as he dribbled toward goal and unleashed a curling shot from a tight angle that found the far right upper corner and left Clark flat-footed. It marked Silva’s second goal of the year, matching his total from last season.

Houston’s attack struggled to create chances throughout the second half and put its first shot on target in the 84th minute. Dorsey sent a cross to the edge of the…