Austin FC beat Houston Dynamo 3-1 at Q2 Stadium and advanced to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup quarterfinals in dominating style. The win relied on technical superiority, attacking potency, and a precise second half. Brandon Vazquez got things started in the opening half, Osman Bukari and Ilie Sánchez put it away in the second half, and the opposing side realized they could only score once since it did not matter already. A state rivalry featuring marquee names on both rosters and which wrapped up the Verde & Black showing their development at this juncture in the season.
The victory extends the championship's unbeaten run at home and assures a spot in the championship's last eight.
A half and a gap well utilized
Houston started off on the right foot. During the opening minute, Brandon Vazquez already forced Jimmy Maurer into making his first save of the night. The Dynamo goalie came quickly out to block the forward's attempt, an early threat his way. At the 26th minute, it was Nico Lodeiro's turn from far out, but the ball flew over the crossbar. Austin did not have the ball but did do things aggressively
The goal arrived sooner rather than later. Jon Gallagher crossed from the right and Vazquez used a bit of savvy and flicked the ball over his shoulder and hit toward the far post. A goal from a player who's on a tear and moves and scores well. It was the third goal scored by Vazquez in this Open Cup edition and his fifth in the club’s last five contests.
Bukari enters and completes the game on two plays
The final half was when Austin closed the game. In the 56th minute, Jáder Obrian came into the box and got his cross blocked by the hand of Franco Escobar. Penalty given, which Osman Bukari slotted calmly to double the score. Four minutes later, Bukari came out again. He got the better of the defender through a sudden step and crossed clinically to Ilie Sánchez, who was free in the center of the box, at his own convenience. A flash 3-0, hammered through intensity and class and awareness technically.
Houston reacts slowly but cannot alter the result
Dynamo tried nonetheless to answer. Ezequiel Ponce met Escobar's cross and nodded in at the 60th minute. It was his second Open Cup goal and fifth goal of the season. A good personal tally, but it didn't count for much towards the state of the game.
Austin already shut down their lead by locking things up in stability, and Houston could not pierce through the opposing side's defense. Sebastian Kowalczyk tried a sweet volley from a ball from the juggling sequence in the 72nd minute but Stuver saved it. In the 46th minute, Jack McGlynn already had the Austin goalkeeper diving for his left and shoveling the ball out for a Dynamo corner kick. Isolated and disjointed as they might have been, they were good efforts but did not materialize into anything.
Austin did not lose their hold on the match even after the goal they conceded and closed off their side's qualification as well, courtesy also of Brad Stuver's performance who came through at the critical moments at least.