Firing on All Cylinders: A Tactical Analysis of Houston Dynamo 2

(image via Houston Dynamo FC)

It’s no secret that Houston Dynamo 2 had an up-and-down 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. Under the leadership of current Dynamo first-team assistant coach Marcelo Santos, the team struggled to find consistent results due to various factors, but perhaps the most crucial of them being the team’s age. As a result, the team missed out on the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs for the first time in their history.

Dos’ roster was the youngest in the league in 2025, with the average age in the squad being 18.9 years according to Houston Dynamo FC. It felt like the team just needed one more year to truly gel and get used to the professional game.

Well, it’s only been four games, but DynaDos have captured the eyes of MLS NEXT Pro fans with their successful results. They’ve won every single match so far, haven’t given up a single goal, and are tied for second in the overall table.

How have Dos started off so strong? And, is this early success sustainable?

A Look Under the Hood

For reference, let’s use Houston’s latest match against North Texas SC. Dos comfortably won this game 2-0. This game is particularly interesting because Matthew Arana, Tomáš Wiesner, and Felipe Andrade didn’t feature. Andrade played for Dos in the first few matches as he was rehabbing from injury, Arana has already made his MLS debut, and Wiesner has top-flight experience in Europe. The team that fans saw face off against North Texas is the closest example Houston have provided this season of a pure MLS NEXT Pro team that is built for this level of competition. However, the tactical ideas brought by interim head coach Jeremy Hurdle have stayed consistent regardless of personnel.

Houston lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation to start the match, and in build up, the two center backs would align next to Pedro Cruz, with full backs and the double pivot also in the vicinity to provide support.

This stage of play is one of Houston’s strengths. Center back Daniel Barrett has become more confident on the ball and isn’t afraid to either circulate possession with the back line or find an open teammate further up the field. Barrett is second on the team in passes attempted so far. Even though he isn’t an elite passer just yet, his confidence reverberates across the entire squad.

In the midfield, Jeremy Hurdle deploys a standard double pivot that has changed in personnel. This game featured Dynamo 2 veteran Diego Gonzalez and rookie Gilberto Rivera occupying those positions. Rivera played slightly deeper than Gonzalez on average, but the players frequently rotated in terms of positioning. Ever since signing for Houston Dynamo 2 this offseason, Rivera has been a strong contributor, tallying two goal contributions in his last two matches. His performances earned him a spot on the bench for the first team in their match against Portland.

While Houston’s attack didn’t deliver in this particular match in terms of goals, they’ve still been a vital unit. Up front, Mattheo Dimareli has been delivering great performances since his debut last season, especially for his age. He’s been the main outlet winger, giving Hurdle and DynaDos some width on the left wing and stretch the opposition, giving his teammates space to create in more central areas.

Arthur Sousa and Nick Markanich (who has already featured on the first team) have been a stellar double striker tandem. They constantly rotate positionally, giving defenders a tough time knowing who to mark in the final third. Sousa and Markanich have combined for seven goal contributions in their last two appearances for Dos.

Are These Results Sustainable?

It’s important to note that the several first-team fringe players played in the first few matches for Dynamo Dos. Felipe Andrade featured in the squad as he recovered from a preseason injury. Agustin Resch, who recently signed a contract with the first team after featuring in several MLS matches, played in Dos’ 4-0 battering over Tacoma Defiance. Matthew Arana, Blake Gillingham, Markanich, and Tomáš Wiesner have all played for Dos as well in some capacity this year. It’s completely fair to argue that all these players are at a higher level than what Dos is intended for. Over the course of the season, these players will most likely be seen more involved with the first team.

However, the backbone of this team isn’t made by the fringe first teamers, it’s made out of the Dynamo Academy, which has developed some of the best youngsters in the nation, international prospects eager to show their ability, and other players with points to prove. The only player that I’ve mentioned in the tactical portion of this piece that has received first team minutes is Nick Markanich. The rest will most likely stick around the second team for the duration of the season.

Houston will eventually give up their first goal of the season, and of course they’ll drop points and go through some tough patches. But, this squad is built on some exciting young talents and international prospects eager to impress. All the signs point to a successful season for Dos, and if they’re able to provide consistent results, something they weren’t able to do last season, then there’s no reason why this team can’t set the foundation for a new generation of strong homegrown players.