Austin FC came into Houston having won a decisive 3-1 match over Seattle. They reverted to their disappointing recent form — with recent meaning May — in a 3-0 loss to Houston.
Saturday night was Austin FC's Hell in the Shell.
Giving up three goals in the first 32 minutes — two to Mateusz Bogusz, and one to Guilherme — Austin FC followed up Wednesday's promising 3-1 win with a deflating 3-0 loss to Houston Dynamo FC at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday night.
Despite Verde having some encouraging moments in the earliest phases of the match, the Dynamo scored first, taking just 12 minutes to do it. They got numbers forward in transition and ending up with Bogusz putting a Ezequiel Ponce-served ball past Brad Stuver after Guilherme set the opportunity up with a deft pass of his own.
Three minutes later, the Dynamo nearly got a second goal, again moving the ball around the box with ease before Ponce headed the ball, from close range, just wide of the target.
Verde's few attempts in front of goal in the next phase went awry — most notably, Ilie Sánchez's attempted bicycle kick, which caught Dynamo defender Lucas Halter in the face, leading to Ilie getting a yellow card and a good deal of Halter stink-eye.
The Dynamo — and specifically, Bogusz — would get a second shortly after, with a long lofted ball by Guilherme allowing Bogusz to evade Guilherme Biro and bear down on Austin's goal in the 29th minute.
Not to want to miss out on the fun, Guilherme got on the end of a long ball from Agustín Bouzat three minutes later, similar to the one he served up for Bogusz's second. That resulted in the Dynamo going up 3-0 and Guilherme doing a nifty sideline dance in celebration.
Brandon Vázquez got off a shot from beyond the 18 in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, but Dynamo keeper Jonathan Bond was able to comfortably parry it away.
Verde came out unchanged to start the second half, but close to the hour mark —after a portion of the match most defined by Jon Gallagher attempts — interim head coach Davy Arnaud put his imprint on the match by taking off Przemysław Płacheta and Ilie to put on Joseph Rosales and Besard Šabović.
Arnaud couldn't resist another Torres-for-Torres sub, putting Ervin Torres on for an ineffective Facundo Torres in the 70th, while also taking off Oleksandr Svatok for Mateja Đorđević.
Despite one additional sub, Verde wasn't able to get much going the rest of the match, save for a few chances in stoppage time.
With Houston's win, the Copa Tejas race now gets a little more interesting, with each team on three points.
Honestly, it's tough to come up with one ... perhaps the Vázquez shot near halftime, which was an appreciable proof-of-life moment from him?
Worst Verde moment (that wasn't a goal allowed)
Almost allowing a goal to Ezequiel Ponce, who famously hasn't scored this season — and only being saved that indignity because he headed a beautiful would-be Hector Herrera assist wide — doesn't exactly pad the resume.
One thing you might have missed
In the 81st minute, the Apple TV commentators mentioned that Jayden Nelson looked as he was about to come on, but was ordered back to the bench to sub in Žan Kolmanič for Jon Gallagher in the 82nd minute instead.
One nerdy tidbit
At halftime, Futi thought Verde was more worthy of winning than the Dynamo. Go figure.
Where this fits into the season's narrative
The loss means that Verde's lost four of its last five matches and has won just one of its last six.
A question we have heading into the press conference
Austin FC is the only team in the league without a road win. Why?
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
In April, Verde beat Houston in Q2 Stadium for one of its best wins of the season so far. On Saturday, they'll aim to do it again in H-Town; we turned to Bayou City Soccer for a preview.
The Guardian reported on Friday that Austin FC Academy players have been under investigation by Austin Police and the FBI, due to sexual abuse allegations from last year.
Interim head coach Davy Arnaud said Ervin Torres earned the minutes he made the most of on Wednesday night. He also explained why he deployed inverted wingers in the team's return.
Austin FC jumped out to an early lead on Wednesday and then let in a goal on a defensive lapse. But the true difference maker in the eventual win was a teenager subbed on late.
Saturday night was Austin FC's Hell in the Shell.
Giving up three goals in the first 32 minutes — two to Mateusz Bogusz, and one to Guilherme — Austin FC followed up Wednesday's promising 3-1 win with a deflating 3-0 loss to Houston Dynamo FC at Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday night.
Despite Verde having some encouraging moments in the earliest phases of the match, the Dynamo scored first, taking just 12 minutes to do it. They got numbers forward in transition and ending up with Bogusz putting a Ezequiel Ponce-served ball past Brad Stuver after Guilherme set the opportunity up with a deft pass of his own.
Three minutes later, the Dynamo nearly got a second goal, again moving the ball around the box with ease before Ponce headed the ball, from close range, just wide of the target.
Verde's few attempts in front of goal in the next phase went awry — most notably, Ilie Sánchez's attempted bicycle kick, which caught Dynamo defender Lucas Halter in the face, leading to Ilie getting a yellow card and a good deal of Halter stink-eye.
The Dynamo — and specifically, Bogusz — would get a second shortly after, with a long lofted ball by Guilherme allowing Bogusz to evade Guilherme Biro and bear down on Austin's goal in the 29th minute.
Not to want to miss out on the fun, Guilherme got on the end of a long ball from Agustín Bouzat three minutes later, similar to the one he served up for Bogusz's second. That resulted in the Dynamo going up 3-0 and Guilherme doing a nifty sideline dance in celebration.
Brandon Vázquez got off a shot from beyond the 18 in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, but Dynamo keeper Jonathan Bond was able to comfortably parry it away.
Verde came out unchanged to start the second half, but close to the hour mark —after a portion of the match most defined by Jon Gallagher attempts — interim head coach Davy Arnaud put his imprint on the match by taking off Przemysław Płacheta and Ilie to put on Joseph Rosales and Besard Šabović.
Arnaud couldn't resist another Torres-for-Torres sub, putting Ervin Torres on for an ineffective Facundo Torres in the 70th, while also taking off Oleksandr Svatok for Mateja Đorđević.
Despite one additional sub, Verde wasn't able to get much going the rest of the match, save for a few chances in stoppage time.
With Houston's win, the Copa Tejas race now gets a little more interesting, with each team on three points.
Best Verde moment (that wasn’t a goal)
Honestly, it's tough to come up with one ... perhaps the Vázquez shot near halftime, which was an appreciable proof-of-life moment from him?
Worst Verde moment (that wasn't a goal allowed)
Almost allowing a goal to Ezequiel Ponce, who famously hasn't scored this season — and only being saved that indignity because he headed a beautiful would-be Hector Herrera assist wide — doesn't exactly pad the resume.
One thing you might have missed
In the 81st minute, the Apple TV commentators mentioned that Jayden Nelson looked as he was about to come on, but was ordered back to the bench to sub in Žan Kolmanič for Jon Gallagher in the 82nd minute instead.
One nerdy tidbit
At halftime, Futi thought Verde was more worthy of winning than the Dynamo. Go figure.
Where this fits into the season's narrative
The loss means that Verde's lost four of its last five matches and has won just one of its last six.
A question we have heading into the press conference
Austin FC is the only team in the league without a road win. Why?
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Read Next
Foreign Exchange: Three questions with Bayou City Soccer's Dustyn Richardson
In April, Verde beat Houston in Q2 Stadium for one of its best wins of the season so far. On Saturday, they'll aim to do it again in H-Town; we turned to Bayou City Soccer for a preview.
Report: Sexual abuse investigation involves Austin FC Academy players
The Guardian reported on Friday that Austin FC Academy players have been under investigation by Austin Police and the FBI, due to sexual abuse allegations from last year.
'Ervin's earned the opportunity': How an 18-year-old homegrown player delivered a signature win
Interim head coach Davy Arnaud said Ervin Torres earned the minutes he made the most of on Wednesday night. He also explained why he deployed inverted wingers in the team's return.
At the Whistle: Austin FC 3, Seattle Sounders FC 1
Austin FC jumped out to an early lead on Wednesday and then let in a goal on a defensive lapse. But the true difference maker in the eventual win was a teenager subbed on late.