Written By David Garcia

In a midweek game at Shell Energy Stadium, El Salvador started off hot as they took the lead early in the 5th minute thanks to a long-range curler from Jairo Henriquez. The Dynamo would respond almost instantly and tie the match two minutes later. Diego Gonzalez would strike a volley outside the box to equalize. After the goals, the teams struggled to maintain rhythm and a short minute of stoppage time passed by to take the game into half time. 

At the half, Houston made a triple substitution. Sebastian Kowalczyk, Obafemi Awodesu, and Ethan Bartlow came on for Junior Urso, Daniel Steres, and Erik Sviatchenko. The Dynamo would then receive a couple of Yellow Cards, Andrade in the 55th minute and Gonzalez in the 57th minute. In the 59th minute, the Dynamo nearly cleared out their bench by making five substitutions. Franco Escobar, Artur, Griffin Dorsey, Amine Bassi, and Nicolas Lodeiro came on for Andrade, Ibrahim Aliyu, Michael Halliday, Andy Batioja, and Erik Duenas. The Dynamo would take the lead in the 74th minute when Lodeiro sent a left-footed cross that found an open Escobar header in the back post. Exon Arzu came on for Gabe Segal in the 82nd minute. El Salvador made a push for a tie but time ran out and the Dynamo came out victorious. 

The Men in Orange will now travel to the Pacific Northwest and face off against the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, March 15th.