2026 US Open Cup Round 3: Houston Dynamo cruises as early red card dooms El Paso Locomotive

The Houston Dynamo advanced to the Round of 16 in the 2026 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup defeating the El Paso Locomotive 4-1 at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday night.

Houston’s scoring surge began in the second minute of play, Defender Nicholas Markanich delivered a ball to the edge where Odrej Lingr delivered soccer’s most beautiful play; the bicycle. Lingr finished the night with a goal and two assists in just his first start of the season and first goal since July 29, 2025.

El Paso would go down a man off a straight red shown to Kofi Twumasi after he pushed Lingr to ground just outside the eighteen in the 25^th minute.

Despite the man advantage, Houston was unable to mount any sustainable offense against El Paso causing head coach Ben Olsen to spur his team in the halftime locker room.

“I thought the first half was really sloppy. I wasn’t happy at halftime. And the way we went about being up a man, I thought we were rushing the game. It wasn’t collective enough,” said Olsen.

Right out of the locker room, Dynamo halftime substitute Mateusz Bogusz doubled the Houston advantage in the 46^th minute, Bogusz’ right footed strike caromed off an El Paso defender before rippling the back of the net.

The lead would grow to a 3-0 advantage behind Markanich’s first goal of the season before El Paso pulled one back. Former Houston Dynamo forward Beto Avila slotted one home inside the bottom right corner in the 75^th minute to put El Paso on the board.

The scoring would close in the 80^th minute on an Ezequiel Ponce header off a perfect service to the near post from Lingr.

Houston’s win followed their worst loss of the season in a 6-2 debacle at Colorado. Olsen told his team prior to the match to “leave that behind.” The Dynamo now advance to the Round of 16 hosting USL Championship side Louisville City FC on April 28 or 29, 2026.