Houston Dynamo FC beats Inter Miami FC for 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

For the first time in half a decade, Houston Dynamo FC laid claim to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after besting a Lionel Messi-less Inter Miami CF 2-1 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, on the night of September 27th.

“Congratulations @HoustonDynamo on winning the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said on X following the match, which was played on his 69th birthday. “We held it down.”

Houston CBS affiliate KHOU News reported that Houston never trailed their hosts, who were supported by a very loud crowd gathered at DRV PNK Stadium. According to the station, the Dynamo was never behind score wise during its U.S. Open Cup Championship campaign. The club’s latest accolade brings its hardware total to four, and is the first secured under owner Ted Segal, general manager Pat Onstad, and head coach Ben Olsen, per KHOU.

NBC Sports reported that Griffin Dorsey and Amine Bassi each scored for Houston while Josef Martinez accounted for Miami’s lone goal of the evening. Aside from what’s considered the most historic trophy in American soccer, the Dynamo also earned $300,000 in prize money and a berth in next year’s Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Champions Cup, the national outlet reported.

Per KHOU, the club held a celebration at its home pitch, Shell Energy Stadium, the morning of September 28th. Fans were able to pose with the trophy and purchase championship gear. The station reported that the Dynamo resume league play on September 30th against Lone Star State rival FC Dallas.