Lovel Palmer’s late goal put Houston Dynamo into the quarter-finals of the United States Open Cup, with a 1-0 victory over Miami FC on Tuesday.The Jamaican midfielder got the breakthrough in the 80th minute, when Dominic Oduro laid off a perfect pass into the path of Palmer, who made a great run from midfield.
Palmer controlled the ball, and slotted it underneath Miami net-minder Caleb Patterson-Sewell to score the winner.
“(Miami) wanted to prove that they can play here or want to play here, so this was always going to be a tough game,” said Palmer.
“The team stuck to the task because we have to gain confidence from these games. We’re not winning games in the MLS. And games like this, we have to win to go in league games, and be confident and know that we can come out victorious.”
Both goalkeepers, Tally Hall for Dynamo and Patterson-Sewell for Miami, were called upon to earn their keep throughout the match, as both teams struggled to really control the play.
The match was relatively even leading into the half, but Houston came back out of the locker room, and dominated the second half, both in scoring chances and possession, leading to Palmer’s strike.
With the victory, Houston move on to play the winner of the Austin Aztex-Chivas USA match.
But before that, the Dynamo next travel Thursday night to play Toronto FC in league play.
