Houston Dynamo advanced in the US Open Cup with a commanding 4–1 victory over El Paso Locomotive FC, dominating the encounter through superior attacking efficiency. Playing in a 3–4–3 formation, the hosts registered 17 shots with seven on target, overwhelming their visitors who managed only seven shots and a single effort on goal. Goals from Ondrej Lingr, Mateusz Bogusz, and Ezequiel Ponce—each scoring once—powered Houston's emphatic display, with a fourth goal completing the rout. El Paso's goalkeeper faced a post-shot expected goals conceded of 1.0, indicating the quality of chances the Dynamo created, though the visitors' inability to threaten effectively limited their prospects despite matching Houston's 3–4–3 setup. The gulf in attacking output proved decisive in this Cup tie. Houston's clinical finishing sets up a favourable path forward in the competition.