Dynamo 2sday: Two late goals cost Dos in season opening loss
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season is here and Houston Dynamo 2 look to take on a new season with a lot of new names on the roster. Take a look at some of the some of the names for this 2024 squad.
Dynamo 2 opened the season Sunday at SaberCats Stadium taking on Sporting KC II. Head coach Kenny Bundy fielded the Dominican international Xavier Valdez in goal. with a three-man defense in front of him composed of Kieran Sargent, Isaac Mwakutuya and Obafemi Awodesu. The midfield four consisted of Diego Gonzalez, Ousmane Sylla, Omar Bolanos, and Sebastian Rodriguez. Up top were Isaiah Reid, Exon Arzu and Stephen Annor Gyamfi. Out of this starting eleven, only four players were part of the team last season. This is good indicator of what the club is looking to do with this ”second team”, building up the pipeline for the first team with a combination of academy players, recent college players, and young international players.
Getting into the game, the guys in orange dominated the ball most of the first 20 minutes. Arzu had the first attempt of the game in the 18th minute with a shot that was controlled by SKC II goalkeeper Ryan Schewe. Shortly after, in the 26th minute, Annor collected a rebound inside the box and took a shot from point blank range that once again Schewe blocked. Houston would end the first half with six shots, three on target, while SKC II only had two shots in the entirety of the first 45 minutes.
The goals in this match came in the last 45 minutes, with the home team striking first. From a SKC II corner kick, Dynamo 2 recovered the ball in their own half and Sylla found Arzu on the run with only one defender in front of him. The Honduran beat the defender and when the goalkeeper came off his line, he placed the ball in the corner of the goal to open the scoring. Dynamo 2 took a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute, just minutes after the half.
A minute later, Annor was inches away from connecting on a ball coming across the box, but he just missed on the chance that would have put Houston up 2-0 in a matter of minutes. Fast forward to the 52nd minute and Arzu’s speed and ability to beat defenders would draw a penalty. Captain Diego Gonzalez stepped to the spot, but his penalty was saved by Schewe, diving to his left. The match remained 1-0 for the home side.
Bundy made the first changes of the match in the 61st minute, bringing on Zeke Soto, Omar Grey and Ifu Achara for Bolanos, Reed and Annor Another great chance came in the 68th minute for Dynamo Dos. Gonzalez squared a ball in the heart of the box for Achara, but the SKC II defender got right in front of his shot to deny him the opportunity. Houston looked very much like the aggressor for most the match with SKC II having a break here and there to get to the goal of Valdez with slight danger.
As the game transitioned into the last 15 minutes of play, SKC II started to play to at least send this game to penalty kicks and at least split points with the home team. In the 82nd minute, Sebastian Cruz took a shot from top of the box but Valdez wasn’t able to contain the ball. The rebound landed at the feet of former Houston Dynamo 2 player Beto Avila, who only had to slot the ball into a wide-open goal to level the score at 1-1.
SKC II would find their second goal and the winner in the 87th minute. They won the ball in the midfield and carried it all the way to the top of the box to get a shot off. Once again, Valdez gave up an unfortunate rebound that landed at the feet of second half substitute Pau Vidal. The big striker shot with his right foot and put the ball in the back of the net to presumably give the visiting side all three points.
In the dying moments of the match, Bundy brought 14-year-old Myles Gardner on for Arzu in an attempt to possibly find a late equalizer. The SKC II defense were able to hold on to the result and take the win.
After the match Bundy gave us some of his thoughts regarding this match. Some of his positives to take away were their controlling play for most of the match and a number of professional debuts from players that looked like they deserved to be playing at this level. Some of Bundy’s negatives were the number of chances created and the lack of finishing of those chances and not converting those chances they gave the opponent an opportunity to stay in the match and eventually turn it on its head.
Next up for the Dynamo 2 is a trip to California to take on LAFC 2 on Sunday, March 24 at 3 PM. You can watch the game on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Dynamo 2 will return to SaberCats Stadium on March 28 to host Austin FC II. All Dynamo 2 matches at Sabercats Stadium are free and open to the public this season.
