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Dynamo Edge Atlanta in PK's to Open Torneo de Tejas
- German Benitez
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Dynamo kicked off the inaugural Torneo de Tejas preseason tournament with intensity on Saturday, as Houston Dynamo FC battled Atlanta United to a 1–1 draw before securing a 4–3 penalty shootout victory at Shell Energy Stadium.
Dynamo Debut Their New-Look XI
Houston wasted no time integrating their offseason reinforcements. Newly signed Polish Designated Player Mateusz Bogusz headlined a revamped starting lineup, with several other newcomers stepping immediately into Ben Olsen’s tactical setup. The Dynamo lined up aggressively with a three‑at‑the‑back system, deploying Griffin Dorsey and Lawrence Ennali as wingbacks to stretch the field.
Captain Artur was unavailable due to injury, details forthcoming, opening the door for newly acquired Argentine midfielder Agustín Bouzat to earn valuable minutes in the center of the midfield.
First Half: Houston Assertive, Atlanta Clinical
Houston controlled much of the early tempo, repeatedly pushing forward and forcing Atlanta onto the back foot. The game’s first real chance came in the 27th minute when Bogusz latched onto a loose ball following a corner clearance and fired a shot just over the bar.
Head coach Ben Olsen praised the team’s approach:
“I thought we played well in the first half. We created a bunch of chances offensively and stuck to what we do well.”
But Houston’s high pressing structure left space behind, and Atlanta punished them in the 37th minute. A rapid transition sparked by a counterattack ended with Emmanuel Latte burying his chance to give the visitors a 1–0 lead just before halftime.
Olsen acknowledged the moment as a teaching point:
“We did get caught in a transition moment by a high‑level attacker, and we have to be ready to face that every week in this league. We just need to clean up some of the active defending in moments of transition.”
Second Half: Halter Equalizes as Dynamo Push Forward
The Dynamo emerged from the locker room determined, and the equalizer arrived swiftly. Just five minutes into the second half, center-back Lucas Halter rose above the defense and headed home a perfectly delivered cross to level the match.
Halter emphasized the team’s mentality:
“I am very proud of the team, as well as happy for the win and to score in Shell Energy Stadium. The team is growing day by day. We know we will encounter difficult matches this season, but our mentality is strong.”
Houston continued pushing for the winner, dominating possession and territory.
In the 65th minute, Héctor Herrera entered the match for Guilherme, shifting Jack McGlynn higher into the midfield as Bogusz retained the creative role.
Olsen later substituted the entire starting XI in the 75th minute to distribute preseason minutes across the roster.
Despite Houston’s pressure, the match finished 1–1 after regulation.
Penalty Shootout: Maurer the Hero
Under Torneo de Tejas rules, tied matches proceed directly to penalty kicks for additional standings point. Houston prevailed 4–3, with goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer delivering two crucial saves to seal the result.
The Dynamo earn two points for the shootout win, placing them second in the tournament standings, trailing FC Dallas, who defeated the New York Red Bulls in their opener.
Looking Ahead
Houston’s next Torneo de Tejas matchup comes on Wednesday, February 11th, a noon showdown against FC Dallas in Frisco, Texas. Followed by the last preseason game against New York Red Bulls on Saturday, February 14th back at Shell Energy Stadium. This match will be free for fans, coinciding with the club’s annual Fan Fest.
The Dynamo will look to build on their encouraging performance, continue integrating new signings, and refine their transition defense as preseason competition intensifies.