Dynamo 2sday: Dos losing streak reaches four
(image via Austin FC II)
Houston Dynamo 2 traveled up Highway 290 on Friday to visit Austin FC II for the second time this year and for the third game against the Verde this season. The first time they met this year in Austin, the home team came put on top with a 2-1 victory. In the second game, the Verde traveled to Houston and lost 2-0 as Dos would tie up the series. This third time would, unfortunately, end in favor of Austin, but let’s take a look at what went down.
Austin would try to surprise the visitors early in the match. In the ninth minute of play, a nice through ball between the Dynamo defenders would leave Chilean forward Sebastian Pineau all alone against Andrew Pannenberg but the Dos goalkeeper would come out on top with a save.
Dynamo 2 would return the aggression in the 15th minute after a nice succession of passes. The sequence ended with a shot by Diego Gonzalez, but it ended up in the hands of the Auston goalkeeper Damian Las. There was not enough power behind the shot to be dangerous, but it was a good play to get into the opponent’s box from the Dynamo.
From a corner kick in the 24th minute, Mujeeb Murana was able to get a head on the ball and send it to the back post. Charles Auguste was not able to direct the ball down towards goal, sending the ball flying over the crossbar. This was the clearest chance for the Dynamo in the first half of play.
Shortly after, in the 27th minute, Austin would have a chance of their own. Off a rebound from a corner kick, the ball landed at the feet of Christopher Pinkman who let a shot rip from outside the box. Pannenberg found himself in the right place at the right time to make another great save, keeping the scoreline 0-0 between the Texas teams.
Another chance for Houston came in the 34th minute when Tate Lampman flicked on from a long free kick. Murana was not able to close in at the back post. It was a good back and forth game, but in the 44th minute of play, things would change in favor of the home team.
A cross would come from the right side of the field. The first runner would miss the header but CJ Fodrey was closing on the back post. Fodrey would be able to get to the ball and put it in the back of the net to give Austin the first goal of the night.
Right before the end of the half, Austin would get another shot at goal from a free kick on the edge of the box. The shot was straight to goal, but once again Pannenberg would the deny the opportunity and give the visitors a glimpse of hope to be able to turn things around after the break.
Austin would come out the gates for the second half hot. Fodrey hit a nice cross from the left side of the field to the front post where Sebastien Pineau put it in the back of the net with a diving header. Austin went ahead 2-0 to get the second half going for and the game for Dynamo Dos would get just a bit more difficult for a possible comeback.
The game would continue with its back and forth but nothing much of substance came for the visiting side. The home side would continue their very strong defending run. Austin came into this game as the team in the league with the best defensive record and would continue to keep that up as they would get another shoutout in this match.
Pineau’s goal wouldn’t be end of the scoring for Austin as Cristo Vela, or as we would call him at BCS Christ Candle, would make a statement with an upper 90 free kick in the 79th minute. Charles Auguste was sent off in the 82nd minute for violent conduct, leaving Dos to finish the match with ten. That would be the end of a night that I’m sure Dynamo fans would like to forget and move on quick from. Houston now moves to 6 wins, 2 draw and 8 losses in 16 matches and look to back to get to their winning ways as they’ve now gone 4 games without a victory.
Dynamo 2’s next match will be another Texas Derby matchup as Houston will host North Texas SC Sunday July 16 at 6 PM.
