Houston Dynamo secured a Round of 16 spot in the 2025 US Open Cup after defeating Phoenix Rising 4-1 away from home, with the match witnessing balance, drama, stunning goals, and technical prowess at critical moments. The MLS side took time to get into the game against the USL Championship side, but when it finally did, it did so with commanding authority.
Jack McGlynn struck a brilliant shot to restore Dynamo's lead, and Ezequiel Ponce and Sebastian Kowalczyk scored goals to seal the win in style, turning what had been a close game into a wide-margin victory.
Header opened the scoring for Houston
The first half was defined by controlling possession by Houston, but no threat until the 17th minute, when Nico Lodeiro set up well with a free kick that center back Felipe Andrade headed home. The Brazilian's first goal for the first team, scored hours after his loan extension to the end of the season was ratified. An opening that repaid Dynamo's possession, but failed to put the game out of sight.
Phoenix Rising, backed by their Arizona home crowd, did not hesitate to play off the MLS rival's strength and motivation. The team countered with speed and straight-ahead football. Forward Johnson nearly equalized it with a threatening cross but received the game's first yellow card for running into keeper Blake Gillingham in the chest on a poorly executed bicycle kick.
Rising found its rhythm again in stoppage time and was rewarded: a deep cross to Sacko pulled Gillingham out of his line, he underjudged it, fouled, and Dariusz Formella calmly scored the penalty to level the game in the 46th minute.
Second half dragged and led to extra time
The tie made the second half even tighter. Both teams were tense, afraid of committing an error. Houston had the better chances, including a dominant header by Bartlow in the 83rd minute that saw Rakovsky into a breathtaking save. There were several threatening corners afterwards, but Phoenix pushed away the pressure beautifully. During stoppage time, Dynamo tried once again with a bicycle kick from Urso that flew over the goal. The 1-1 stalemate continued, and the game extended to extra time.
McGlynn shattered the deadlock with a left-footed screamer
The game needed something special to break open additional time, and Jack McGlynn delivered just that. Brooklyn Raines selected him in the 99th minute at the edge of the box. McGlynn took a single touch with his left foot and curled it into the upper left corner. A thing of beauty that completely turned the match around. It was the push Dynamo needed to finally take command.
After McGlynn's rocket, Phoenix tried to respond, but they had little in the tank. At the 112th minute, Lingr placed a pinpoint cross in, and Ponce headed it in. Three minutes later, in the 115th, the script flipped: Ponce crossed, and Kowalczyk finished it off, unchecked. The 4-1 scoreline was what extra time looked like, pure domination by Houston.
Key saves kept Houston afloat
Although the ultimate scoreline was, Houston needed some vital saves from Gillingham in the first half. In the 33rd minute, he denied a strong shot from Noble Okello. In the 44th minute, he denied a header from close range by Hope Avayevu. Those saves maintained Dynamo ahead while the game was still very much alive. In the second half, Phoenix kept the pressure again with some rapid breaks but were unable to match the attacking pressure they had previously.