Dynamo 2sday: Dos lose third straight match to open season
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
After two defeats to start the season, Houston Dynamo 2 looked to turn things around at home against the MLS NEXT Pro champions Austin FC II.
Nico Hansen got the start again, with Xavier Valdez back from national team duty and on the bench. The back three consisted of Omar Grey, Isaac Mwakutuya and Obafemi Awodesu. Parker Jackson, Ousmane Sylla, Sebastian Rodriguez and captain Diego Gonzalez started in the midfield. Kieran Sargeant, Ifu Achara, and Exon Arzu were the three players up top.
The first action of the match came early in the game, in the fifth minute. Achara had a one-on-one situation, but Austin goalkeeper Marcus Alstrup was able to close down the angle of the shot quickly.
Austin had a chance of their own around the half hour mark. A cross went into the box but the finish wasn’t great from the Austin attacker. Achara got another shot on target in the 43rd minute, but Alstrup made the save at the near post. One of the last plays of the half was a magical free kick by Gonzalez that was denied by an even better save from Alstrup.
Unfortunately, early in the sound half, Arzu received his second yellow, and in turn a red card, which left Dynamo Dos with ten men and an uphill battle against a difficult opponent. In the 65th minute, a bomb off the right foot of Gonzalez from outside of the box but once again forced a save from Alstrup.
The 74th minute brought a great chance for the visitors from a corner. The ball was met at the near post and put on frame, but it rocked the crossbar. Only a few minutes later, Jimmy Farkarlun swung in a beautiful cross to the back post where CJ Fodrey met the ball and with one touch put it in the back of the net. It ended up as the only goal of the night and gave Austin the victory. Houston got a last-minute chance in the 89th minute from a header at the back post but once again, Alstrup denied the home team.
“I know at this point for the boys, it’s still a process… I have all faith that all this will come together and once they start to get results, they’ll start rolling,” Dynamo 2 head coach Kenny Bundy said after the match about the trust he has in his squad and getting results in future matches.
Speaking of future matches, this Thursday, April 4th, Dynamo 2 will host the other team in the Western Conference that hasn’t amounted any points this season, MNUFC2. This game will take place at 7 PM at SaberCats Stadium. As always, there is no fee to go watch the match so if you can go support the next generation of soccer players in Houston make sure you make it out.
