Kevin Denkey’s penalty kick deep into extra time allowed FC Cincinnati to earn a 2-2 draw with the host Houston Dynamo FC on Saturday night.
Guilherme Augusto Santos and Mateusz Bogusz scored for Houston.
It was a discouraging result for the Dynamo (13-8-5, 44 points), who were in range of moving to the top of the Western Conference. It was Bogusz’s foul in the penalty area that allowed Denkey to have a chance to even the score in the seventh minute of second-half extra time.
Bryan Ramirez also scored for Cincinnati (8-8-9, 33 points), which has collected a total of two points in its last four matches combined with its second consecutive tie after being shut out by Nashville SC (4-0 on Aug. 29) and the Philadelphia Union (5-0 on Sept. 9).
Houston goalkeeper Jonathan Bond made six saves.
Santos scored in the 38th minute on a free kick following a foul on Samuel Gidi.
Bogusz converted on a penalty shot in the 51st minute following Kenji Mboma Dem’s foul in the penalty area for a 2-0 lead in the second half.
Ramirez closed the gap to 2-1 in the 73rd minute on assists from Denkey and Evander.
Cincinnati finished with more shots (25-7) and more shots on target (8-2). Goalie Roman Celatano did not make a save.
FC Cincinnati are now 2-0-2 all-time against the Dynamo.
–Field Level Media
