Dynamo 2sday: Dos season ends with playoff loss in Tacoma
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
Today, as I write one of the last 2sdays of the year, if not the last, I just want to thank every single one of our listeners and readers for coming back and trusting our work here at Bayou City Soccer. We are fellow Houston soccer lovers, and we live in a great time in our city as we have three teams competing and carrying the name of the city on their backs. We at BCS get to follow them close, report, and share everything related to the club while we enjoy the highs and support the club in the lows.
Now let’s get to what ended up being the last match of the season for Dynamo 2.
Kenny Bundy fielded a strong side with the usual Xavier Valdez in goal and youngster Tate Lampman and the experienced Talen Maples as the center back duo. Two academy guys lined up out wide in Jathan Juarez and Mujeeb Murana. Argentine Yair Gonzalez lined up in the midfield with another youngster and academy player Sebastian Rodriguez. To complete the trio was a vital piece to this Dos squad, Diego Gonzalez. Up top were the usual suspects, Papa Ndoye, Jacob Evans, and a player that has really stood out this season, Isaiah LeFlore.
Tacoma struck first in the match, very early on. In the third minute of play. Travian Sousa made a run all the way down the flank and sent a ball across the box. The first player let the ball go through his legs for Blake Bowen, who was making the run from the far side. Bowen was able to connect with the ball to the surprise of everyone, putting the ball to the Valdez’s back post to put the home side up 1-0 just as the teams started to get loose.
Houston had their first chance in the 10th minute but Tacoma goalkeeper Jacob Castro, who had a heck of night with 5 saves, deflected the shot out for a corner kick. Dos was trying to keep the intensity high and looking to equalize early but Tacoma would hit again and soon.
Bowen received the ball in the middle of the field and found Braudilio Rodrigues making the run on the left. He filtrated a beautiful ball to the space for the forward to blast it low and into the back of the net. Now the game was 2-0 to the home side in only 13 minutes of play.
Bowen once again showed up for Tacoma, making a great run behind the back of Leflore. He then squared the ball back to the penalty spot where Rodrigues stood all alone to put it in the back of the net. It was now 3-0 in favor of Tacoma Defiance, all before the 20-minute mark. It was going to be a long night for Houston, as now they were looking to battle uphill on a really steep hill.
In the 27th minute of play, the home team would get another chance. Another counter from Tacoma got them a chance, but this time Valdez came out and blocked the shot form the runner to keep the scoreline 3-0.
The Dynamo pushed to get on the board before the end of the half. Just past the half hour mark, the visitors were able to get one back. A great build up play concluded in a nice through ball by Gonzalez to leave Evans one on one with the goalkeeper. Evans was lethal with his finish and Dynamo Dos pulled one back to close the gap between the teams.
In the 40th minute, Tacoma once again crashed into the box with numbers. This time around, Dos were able to get bodies behind the ball and defended the attack well as they went to the locker rooms to regroup and hope for the miracle of a comeback.
Five minutes into the second half, Tacoma had the first opportunity of the half. Build up play by the home team ended with a shot but went just wide of the right post of Valdez. It didn’t take them too long to actually find the back of the net. In the 53rd minute, a run on the left side of the field by Sousa sent another ball to the penalty spot where Dylan Teves was waiting. A nice little touch around the defender made the space for Teves to make the score 4-1.
With only 11 minutes to go, when everything seemed like it was said and done, Diego Gonzalez pulled one back for Dynamo 2. He picked up a bad pass back from a Tacoma defender and was able to get the ball past the keeper to make the game 4-2.
Only 2 minutes later, the hopes for a potential come back grow even bigger when Isaiah LeFlore got the ball in the middle of the box from a cross by Juarez. LeFlore brought the ball down with his chest and put a banger into the upper 90 to make it 4-3. It set up an intense last 10 minutes of the match.
The last few minutes saw Houston bombarding the Tacoma defense as the home side looked for counters to put this match away and punch their ticket to the next round. As the match came to an end, Papa Ndoye had the last clear chance for an equalizer. He received the ball and connected with a scissor kick, but Castro made the save, becoming the hero of the night.
For the second straight year in the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs, Tacoma won. They suffered at the end but were able to hold on with all the pressure that Dos threw at them. Two early goals set the tempo and were eventually the decisive factor for the home team. It was a heck of an effort from Houston in the second half but was not enough to come back.
The loss marked the end of the season for Dynamo 2 but there were some positive things to carry on to next year and build on. It was great to see a good amount of Academy players climb up the ranks and earn minutes and starting roles in this team. Let’s hope to see them keep climbing and cracking into the first team in due time. As for now, we conclude another year of Dynamo Dos. Thanks again to the readers and everyone who supported the PIBES in the journey to become first team players and representing the city of Houston well.
Like always. HOUSTON CONTRA TODOS!!! VAMOS LOS PIBES!!!
