Rivalry results don't get much better than what Houston Dynamo FC midfielder Coco Carrasquilla delivered on Saturday.
The Panamanian international conjured up an instant AT&T Goal of the Matchday contender during his team's trip to Austin FC, breaking a scoreless deadlock with an 83rd-minute game-winning bicycle kick that stunned the Q2 Stadium crowd.
"I’m happy. I’m always happy and thankful to God for giving me the opportunity to score," Carrasqulla said after the 1-0 victory.
"This time it was a very special goal because it was the game-winner and for the way it happened. It’s not very normal for me [to score a bicycle kick] so I’m happy, I’m going to enjoy it and I’m going to rest this weekend.”
Carasquilla's golazo dealt a potentially decisive blow to their arch-rival's Audi MLS Cup Playoffs hopes and got Houston their first-ever victory at Q2 Stadium in six tries.
It also delivered three crucial points as Houston look to secure a coveted top-four spot in the Western Conference table. With 48 points (13W-8L-9D), the Dynamo are just one point behind LAFC for the No. 4 spot.
"We knew the game would be decided by small details," Carasquilla said. "On this occasion, it was a dead-ball play that we took advantage of. I’m happy that I was the one who scored, and the most important thing is that the team won tonight on the road, which is very important."
Houston's club-record eighth road win of the season also came without the services of star midfielder Héctor Herrera, who missed Saturday's match with a hamstring injury.
"We talk about these cliches of 'Héctor out, who's going to step up?' It's a collective," head coach Ben Olsen said postgame. "It's asking guys to be ready to adapt and Coco's a great example of that.
"A lot of guys do it and they don't get credit for it, but I think when you score a bike, I think he'll get the accolades he deserves tonight because he had a good performance."
