Questionable Penalty Leads to Late Draw for Austin FC

A controversial penalty kick turned the tide at Q2 Stadium on Saturday, as Austin FC squandered a 2-0 lead to finish in a 2-2 draw against the Houston Dynamo. The Verde & Black, who looked set for their third consecutive victory after dominating for 70 minutes, were left frustrated after the Dynamo’s comeback.

First-half goals from Ilie Sánchez and Guilherme Biro had put Austin in a commanding position. The Verde & Black appeared far more energetic and creative, creating multiple scoring chances, but they couldn’t find a third goal to put the game away. This allowed Houston to stay in the match, setting the stage for the dramatic final minutes.

The turning point came in the 72nd minute when Houston’s Pablo Ortiz went down in the box after contact with Austin FC winger Robert Taylor. The referee awarded a penalty, a call that Austin FC manager Nico Estevez fiercely contested. “Obviously not a PK,” Estevez said, noting that Ortiz “went down three seconds after he felt something. It was minimal.”

Jack McGlynn converted the spot kick, breathing new life into a previously sluggish Dynamo side. Suddenly energized, Houston began to play with a newfound urgency. McGlynn completed the comeback with a second goal, salvaging a point for the visitors.

Estevez lamented the result, stating, “We’re not happy with the result. We wanted to win, for us, for the fans, for the club.” The draw means Austin FC failed to put more distance between themselves and the postseason play-in spots, leaving them just two points ahead of eighth-place San Jose.