“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” That certainly happened to me this morning, the morning I was set to drive down to Houston for tonight’s US Open Cup match between San Antonio FC of the United Soccer League and the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer. Unfortunately, my body had a different plan in mind and I stayed home sick.

That being the case, it’s great that we live in such a technologically advanced age. So at 7:30 PM I hopped on my computer to find the stream for tonight’s match. Yes, I am bitter I had prepurchased a ticket for the first time this summer.

Houston enters the game having split with Owen Coyle at the tail end of May and under new direction. New coach Wade Barrett was chosen to oversee the club on an interim basis for the remainder of the season, and this will be his third match at the helm. It is also his first match in front of the home crowd at BBVA Compass Stadium.

In a squad loaded with former MLS players, SAFC’s Jason Johnson will also have a homecoming of sorts. The forward was the 13th pick overall for the Dynamo in the 2013 version of the MLS SuperDraft. Following 21 appearances, which yielded just one goal, the Jamaican was traded to the Chicago Fire in 2015. After last season, the Fire and Johnson parted ways and he was unveiled as a San Antonio player in February. Across from him on the field tonight, the man deemed fit to be his replacement in the Dynamo set up, Alex Lima.

As the game kicks off, a driving drum comes clearly across the broadcast. Despite a cadence meant to kickstart a home surge – the Dynamo haven’t won a league match at home since May 14th – the opening 10 minutes are some of the sloppiest I’ve witnessed this summer. The fact that the Dynamo are coming off nearly a fortnight layoff, due to the Copa America Centenario break instituted by MLS, make this even more painful to watch.

After 13 minutes of action, Joe Willis is the first keeper to be called into action as SAFC’s Milton Palacios sends in a less-than-threatening cross. Willis collects it and the Dynamo break is on. Houston’s Boniek Garcia gets on the end of the ball, and Palacios gets back in time on a nice recovery run. A heavy tackle by the SAFC right back results with him on the ground after Boniek steps on Palacios’ foot and play is temporarily stopped.

Once play resumes, Danny Garcia, a former FC Dallas attacking midfielder and no stranger to feeling loathing towards Houston, is streaking down the left flank. He takes a blow to the head, yielding blood in the process, but no foul is called and play resumes as the game continues to be chippy.

After 20 minutes of disjointed play, San Antonio gives signs of working their way into the game, resulting in a corner, the first of the game for either side. With two players on the goal line and two at the top of the 18-yard box, it’s an interesting set up for the visitors. The ball is whipped in and Sam McBride’s glancing header leaves the ball at Stephen McCarthy’s feet as both make back-post runs. Unfortunately, the ball gets tangled in the defender’s legs and the well-worked corner results in nothing.

Houston works the ball back down to their offensive third, and the old workhorse, DeMarcus Beasley of US Men’s National Team fame, slots in a ball to Boniek on the left. Boniek, on the touchline, tries to square the ball across the face of goal, but a sliding McCarthy extinguishes the threat in the 25th minute. A water break ensues given the 91 degree heat and extreme humidity.

It’s all Dynamo after the restart. Mauro Manotas records the first real shot of the game, heading the ball over the post off a cross from Sheanon Williams on the right wing in the 30th minute. Nine minutes later, the Dynamo have their breakthrough.

Manotas receives the ball at the top of the box on the right wing from the ever-active Williams. The 20-year old Colombian escapes a clingy McBride, and Palacios, torn between following the run by Boniek and sliding to help in on-ball defense, slips on the field trying to accomplish both tasks. All alone on the left, Manotas takes a left-footed shot low to Josh Ford’s right that nestles in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. As the camera pans, you can see McCarthy lying on his back in the middle of the box, head in hands and looking up to the sky. The cadence that provides the heartbeat for the game continues its roll.

Misery doubles for San Antonio as halftime beckons. A short corner worked by Boniek and Beasley results in a cross by Beasley finding the back of David Rocha’s head. The Spaniard flicks the ball across the goal for Lima to easily tap in. An already uphill task becomes even more challenging for San Antonio, who now face a 2-0 deficit while fielding an offense that has only scored one goal in league play in their last four matches.

Johnson’s hard work finally bears some fruit for SAFC in the 57th minute, resulting in the team’s first shot. The forward is a little unfortunate to scuff the shot, though it did deflect off a Houston defender, yielding a corner. However, the corner is easy pickings for Willis and the Dynamo initiate their counter yet again.

To break up the counter, Garcia brings down Beasley on the left flank with a half hour remaining on the timer. Rocha, taking set pieces in place of Cristian Maidana who is currently enjoying the match from the bench, sends an in-swinging ball to the near post. Raul Rodriguez stretches his head in front of two SAFC defenders that are sandwiching him. The glancing header leaves Ford frozen and the Dynamo look set to cruise into the Round of 16 on the strength of a 3-0 win. Three being the magic number that it is, no team has won three matches in this tournament since I started this sojourn.

Suffering continues to be piled on for the underdogs from San Antonio. A poor giveaway by Carlos Alvarez in the 66th minute results in Maidana, who has since been subbed on, sending the ball to Lima. An on-rushing Ford forces Lima to square the ball to Leonel Miranda for an open look that pierces the heart of the empty goal.

It’s nearly a five-star night for the hosts in the Fourth Round thanks to Maidana with just over 15 minutes left in the match. The substitute sends a free kick that curls high to low and left to right. Nearly perfect, but Ford swipes a big paw at the ball and pushes it wide. Unfortunately, the offense just can’t get going for San Antonio as the clock heads to 90, and the hosts cruise to victory. The first victory of Barrett’s tenure.

After two wins, including a come-from-behind victory two weeks ago against the Des Moines Menace, San Antonio must bow out in the Fourth Round of the US Open Cup. This is the first blowout, as well as shutout, I’ve witnessed this summer. For the first time, David is truly outmatched. Sadly, this is my last chance to see a Cupset in its truest form this season.