MLS NEXT Pro Houston Dynamo 2

Dynamo 2 Draw 1-1 with MNUFC2, Fall in Penalties

May 14, 2022 - MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Houston Dynamo 2 News Release


MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. - Houston Dynamo 2 played MNUFC2, the MLS NEXT Pro side for Minnesota United FC, to a 1-1 draw tonight at Allianz Field. Per MLS NEXT Pro regulations, the match immediately went to a shootout featuring kicks from the penalty spot when the teams finished tied after 90 minutes.

In regulation, Dynamo 2 broke through with a goal in the 54th minute, as defender Talen Maples scored a header after midfielder Jacob Evans passed to Juan Castilla on a short corner, who crossed the ball into the captain to give Houston a 1-0 lead.

MNUFC2 tied the game back up in the 61st minute, as Aziel Jackson got the ball from Nicholas Mendonca on a counterattack and cut back to his left to create enough space in front of the goal to get a shot off and score for Minnesota.

In the shootout, defender Ian Hoffmann and midfielders D'Alessandro Herrera, Juan Castilla and Diego Gonzalez scored on their kicks, before midfielder Paulo Lima had his shot blocked by the MNUFC2 goalkeeper to give the opponents two points in the match.

Houston earned its first shot on goal in just the fifth minute, as Castilla sent a free kick from the right of goal that fell to the feet of Maples, who got off a shot that was blocked by a MNUFC2 defender.

Dynamo 2's next scoring opportunity came in the 26th minute, as midfielder Jacob Evans dribbled around a MNUFC2 defender inside the box and got a shot off that was knocked away by the goalkeeper and out of bounds for Houston's first corner kick of the game.

Just a few minutes later, Houston Dynamo 2 forward Papa N'Doye broke free on a counterattack in the 30th minute before laying the ball off to forward Joyner Castillo, who was making his first start for Dynamo 2. Castillo's shot was deflected by the opposition and went out for another Houston corner kick.

N'Doye nearly put Houston ahead just at the end of the first half, as he dribbled past the defense and got a shot off inside the 18-yard-box in the 45th minute that was blocked away by the goalkeeper. N'Doye recorded a season high four shots on goal for Houston.

Midfielder Diego Gonzalez drew a free kick from just outside of the penalty box in the 2nd minute of added time in the first half. N'Doye was the one who took the shot, which was gobbled up by the goalkeeper to keep the game scoreless going into halftime.

Dynamo 2 next play on Wednesday, May 25 at 8:00 p.m. when they face off against Real Monarchs in Sandy, Utah.

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