The Houston Dynamo earned their second Texas Derby victory over Austin FC this weekend, needing a comeback effort to pick up three points at home.
Ben Olsen’s squad used goals from Hector Herrera and Ivan Franco to defeat Austin FC 2-1, earning SBI’s Best of MLS Team of the Week honors. Steve Clark made two saves to help preserve the home triumph.
Gyasi Zardes opened the scoring in the 22nd minute for Austin FC, celebrating his 100th-career MLS tally.
However, the Dynamo fought back and used Herrera’s third goal of 2023 to tie things up 1-1 heading into halftime.
With both teams pressing for an equalizer, the Dynamo received one in the 87th minute as Franco’s close-range finish off a Daniel Steres assist handed the hosts a second-consecutive victory.
The Dynamo sit seventh in the Western Conference standings with 18 points earned through 13 matches.
The Philadelphia Union, St. Louis CITY SC, and Sporting KC also finished Week 15 with honorable mentions.
Here is a closer look at the rest of this week’s Best of MLS:
Player of the Week
The Philadelphia Union became the first team to defeat NYCFC at home this season with Argentine attacker Julian Carranza leading the way with a brace.
Carranza scored twice for the Union in a resounding 3-1 victory, giving Jim Curtin’s squad a fourth victory in their past six matches across all competitions. Daniel Gazdag’s second-half penalty kick added an insurance tally for the Union, who moved to 24 points this season through 14 matches.
The result also marked NYCFC’s first home loss at Citi Field in MLS regular season play.
Goal of the Week
St. Louis CITY SC made it back-to-back league wins on Saturday with Eduard Lowen scoring a golazo from a set-piece.
Lowen’s long-range right footed shot nestled into the top-right corner, boosting Bradley Carnell’s squad in front 1-0 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The German midfielder might’ve been trying to deliver a cross into the box, but regardless, his effort helped kickstart a positive night for the Western Conference hosts.
Lowen has four goals and three assists in his debut MLS season for St. Louis, who are second in the West.
Noel Buck’s long-range strike for the New England Revolution also finished as a Goal of the Week honorable mention.