Dynamo 2sday: Dos surge above playoff line with big win in Portland
(image via Portland Timbers)
Houston Dynamo 2 made their way to Cascadia on Sunday night to continue their push for the playoffs against a Portland Timbers 2 team that was also holding on to the same hope.
Houston started the match with Andrew Pannenberg in goal. In front of him were Jathan Juarez, Tate Lampman, Talen Maples, and Isaiah LeFlore. In the midfield were Brooklyn Raines, Diego Gonzalez, and Charles Auguste. The front three was Papa Ndoye, Jacob Evans, and Isaiah Reid.
Houston set the tempo from kickoff found the back of the net early on. In the fifth minute of play, Dynamo Dos won a free kick right outside the box. Diego Gonzalez stepped up and channeled his inner Lionel Messi. The academy product curled one in the top bin. A truly majestic hit by the midfielder gave Houston a 1-0 lead.
A few minutes after the goal, Papa Ndoye would get an opportunity but Timbers goalkeeper Ryan Bilichuk denied the striker. Only a few moments later, the second goal of the match would come. Evans chased a deflection to the end line and crossed to the middle where the ball would land at Lampman’s feet. The center back for the Dynamo took advantage of the opportunity and doubled the lead with a simple tap-in.
Ndoye would get another chance minutes later, but once again Bilichuk would deny Papa from point blank range. Right before the half the Timbers had an opportunity from a free kick but Pannenberg would the deny the home team. To finish the half the Dynamo had their 5th shot of the half with Reid trying to get the third goal but he was denied. Bilichuk played a great of game for the Timbers between the posts to keep Portland in the match.
Coming out of the break, Houston would jump right on the same momentum train they were on to finish the first half. In the 49th minute, Gonzales made a good run got delivered a great ball by Ndoye. Diego sent a textbook pass back to the penalty spot where LeFlore connected with the ball to put it in the back of the net for the third goal of the night and his second on the year.
Ndoye had a great run a few seconds later where he was able to beat the goalkeeper and get the ball past him, but the Timbers defense made a goal line save to clear the ball out. Not even 30 seconds later, Raines took a shot from outside the box that went slightly over the crossbar. Houston seemed determined to get as many opportunities as possible and make them count. "We finished our chances early on and we put pressure on them,” Dynamo 2 head coach Kenny Bundy said after the match. “That was the key to what we wanted to do tonight. We wanted to play a little bit freely. The lineup that we put out, the relationship that those players have on the field, the way that training has been, we just wanted them to play free no matter what the situation was as far as the pressure to make the playoffs.”
In the 60th minute, another free kick for Portland was saved by Pannenberg and sent out of play for a corner. Off that corner, after being cleared once, another cross came in and Timbers forward Tega Ikoba elevated himself over two defenders put the ball just across the line for the goal to count and give the home side a lifeline. That would be the only goal of the night for the home team. Bundy praised his defenders for their performance. “All the guys on the field made plays,” Bundy said post-game. “The amount of blocks Talen (Maples) had. Tate Lampman, stepping into a pressure game like that and not only scoring the goal, which is something that's a highlight for him, but the way that the backline defended. The way that Tate and Talen looked as a unit is what's important.”
The Timbers pushed for a second goal and almost found it in the 79th minute but once again Pannenberg sent the chance away for a corner. In the 89th minute, Pannenberg stepped up to save a scissor kick from Dawson McCartney at the penalty spot. Pannerberg was a crucial part for 3-1 victory, making six saves.
Next up for Dynamo Dos is the last home game of the season and a Texas Derby match up. Houston hosts North Texas SC this upcoming Sunday, September 17th, at 5:30 PM at SaberCats Stadium. It’s a perfect time to go out and support the young guys as they look to better position themselves in the playoff picture. “It's a big game next week, but we control our destiny,” Bundy said about the upcoming match. “We just have to refocus and we need to be prepared for North Texas at home. We need to be better at home. We need to make sure we're getting the points that we need at home to move forward.”
The match will also be available on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass. As always, VAMOS LOS PIBES!!! HOUSTON CONTRA TODOS!!!
