Dynamo 2sday: Dos playoff hopes take a hit in Austin
(image via Austin FC)
Houston Dynamo 2 traveled to the state capital for a crucial Texas showdown Friday night, with only two points separating the teams as the end of the MLS NEXT Pro season looms. Austin FC II managed to come away with the win and secure three valuable points.
The match started off quickly, and despite a few early crosses from the Dynamo, Austin FC was the first to score. In the 5th minute, Jimmy Farkarlun delivered a beautiful cross to the far post, where Micah Burton was waiting alone to slot the ball into the net.
After the goal, the first half saw a relatively quiet period with nearly even possession and a handful of shots from both sides. However, just before halftime, Houston Dynamo 2's Isaac Mwakutuya received a red card, leaving his team a man down. With the deficit of both a goal and a player, the second half presented an uphill battle for Dos and interim head coach Jeremy Hurdle.
Ten minutes into the second half, Austin had a crucial opportunity to double their lead. A long ball over the top put Alonso Ramirez one-on-one with Xavier Valdez, who fouled Ramirez as he tried to go around him, resulting in a penalty kick. Ramirez converted the penalty, giving Austin FC a 2-0 lead and putting them in a strong position to secure three points and temporarily overtake Houston in the standings.
In the 63rd minute, Burton scored his second goal of the match, completing his brace and extending Austin’s lead to 3-0. Things continued to deteriorate for Houston, who now faced the prospect of falling to 9th place, with Austin moving into 8th.
At the time of the match, Portland Timbers 2, in 10th place before their game, lost 3-2 to LAFC II, dropping them to 11th. Sporting Kansas City II, in 11th place, secured a 1-0 victory over Colorado, climbing to 8th place. Consequently, the standings were: SKC II in 8th with 34 points, Austin FC II in 9th with 34 points, Houston Dynamo 2 in 10th with 33 points, and Portland Timbers 2 in 11th with 32 points. Additionally, Real Monarchs, after a victory in a penalty shootout against Tacoma Defiance, moved to 12th place with 31 points.
Despite the tough loss, Dynamo Dos had a bright spot. In the final moments of the match, 15-year-old Lukas Bruegmann, who had come on as a substitute in the 78th minute, received a pass from Ousmane Sylla just outside the box and scored with a stunning shot into the top corner.
Though this goal was not enough to change the outcome of the game, it was a promising sign for the future. Dynamo 2 will now look ahead to their remaining three matches as they continue to fight for a playoff spot.
Next up, Dynamo Dos will host the last-place Colorado Rapids II on Sunday, September 22nd, at 5 PM, before traveling to face Tacoma Defiance the following Sunday. For now, it’s one game at a time. We hope to see you at SaberCats Stadium this Sunday to support Houston Dynamo 2 and help them secure three crucial points. #VamosDos
