Outside back Griffin Dorsey led the Houston Dynamo FC to their second Lamar Hunt US Open Cup title in franchise history back on Sept. 27. The 24-year-old, drafted in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft, has taken his time emerging as on offensive threat off the Houston backline. His goal in the 24th minute and a solid defensive performance sparked Houston to a 2-1 win over a Messi-less Inter Miami CF squad.
His performance in the 2023 US Open Cup Final earned him TheCup.us Player of the Round honors.
The Player of the Round award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters and select backers (those that pledge $10 or more) of TheCup.us’ Patreon team. Griffin edged out Houston Dynamo teammates Amine Bassi and Nelson Quiñónes for the award.
Dorsey, who was an original draft pick of Toronto FC, opened the scoring in the 108th US Open Cup Final. The former U.S. youth international broke down the right side and buried a right-footed blast top shelf far post leaving nothing to the imagination. Along with his Dynamo teammates, Griffin’s defensive performance nearly earned Houston a shutout in the championship game, but a stoppage time goal by Josef Martinez ruined the clean sheet. Despite that, Houston held on for the club’s second Open Cup title, and they remain the only South Texas club in history to lift the trophy (they are just the fourth team from Texas to win the tournament).
Under first-year Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen, the former Indiana Hoosier University player has flourished. Since early July, Dorsey has secured the right back position as his own starting ten of the team’s previous 12 games. Before that, Dorsey’s name had been called inconsistently at best with just four starts in Houston’s first 20 matches across all competitions.
When asked about Dorsey’s transformation, Olsen was quick to point out his attitude and work ethic while on the bench.
“He’s a wonderful kid and a wonderful human, and the fact that he’s been on the bench early in the year, it makes me think I was crazy,” said Olsen. “He worked at his craft, he didn’t sulk, he’s a great example of a guy that’s out of it, coming in, saying, ‘What do I need to do to get on the field? What do I need to work on?’ Grabbing assistant coaches, doing film work. And he’s just a great example for guys too, when you’re not in favor of how to get out of it.”
Dorsey’s riveting goal has everyone talking about his future. A future that included two more starts to end the season and most likely a start in the post season against Portland on Saturday Oct. 21. For the moment though, the former Toronto FC draft pick will just enjoy the hard work that has paid off with the Houston Dynamo coaching staff’s trust and confidence in his ability.
Trust it when Olsen says, “At this point, there’s no way I’m taking him off the field.”
More than 200 teams began the journey for the 108th Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Starting back in