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MLS NEXT Pro Houston Dynamo 2

Houston Dynamo 2 Defeat Colorado Rapids II for Third Consecutive Victory Since July 28

August 9, 2023 - MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Houston Dynamo 2 News Release


COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Houston Dynamo 2 scored three unanswered goals in their 3-1 victory over Colorado Rapids II at Dick's Sporting Goods Park earlier this evening. The Rapids entered the match with the best record in the Western Conference and Houston's victory denied Colorado a chance to earn their first ever postseason berth in MLS NEXT Pro.

This was the third consecutive victory for Dynamo 2 since July 28 and the team has now earned 13 points from their last five games. With the victory the team currently sits above the playoff line in fifth place with 35 points.

The Rapids took the lead in the 18th minute after Diego Rubio dribbled along the top of the box to create space for a shot that beat the Dynamo goalkeeper at the far post.

Dynamo 2 equalized in the 39th minute after midfielder Jacob Evans found Talen Maples near the penalty spot. Maples' initial effort was blocked by a defender and the ball fell to Diego Gonzalez inside the box. The Dynamo Academy product found the bottom corner of the near post for his eighth goal of the season.

Houston scored nearly 90 seconds later following a throw in from defender Mujeeb Murana in his half of the field. Midfielder Charles Auguste dribbled into the opposing half and played a ball to Evans on the left sideline. The midfielder played the ball into Isaiah LeFlore who found Isaiah Reid at the top of the box for Houston's second goal of the match.

Evans tallied Houston's third goal of the evening in the 63rd minute of the match. Dynamo Academy product Sebastian Rodriguez dribbled toward the top of the box and played a ball behind the Rapids backline to an unmarked Evans for his third goal of the year.

Houston's first shot on goal came in the in the fifth minute of the match following an effort from Jacobs from just outside the box.

The Dynamo backline made two key stops in a five-minute window culminating with a block from Murana at the near post in the 15th minute. The defender got a leg on Darren Yapi's effort to keep the game scoreless.

Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Xavier Valdez was called into action in the 53rd minute to deny Rafael Navarro at the near post. Valdez finished with four saves against the Rapids.

The Rapids were awarded a penalty kick in the 67th minute after Yapi was brought down inside the box. Marlon Vargas took the ensuing penalty kick, which was saved by Valdez at the bottom corner of the right post.

Dynamo 2 return to SaberCats Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 13 to host Whitecaps FC 2 at 6 p.m. CT. Seven matches remain in the regular season and four of those matches will be played in Houston to close the year. Dynamo 2 and head coach Kenny Bundy look to earn their second consecutive berth to the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs by finishing among the top seven teams in the Western Conference.

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Colorado Rapids II (13-3-5; 48 pts.) 1-3 Houston Dynamo 2 (10-8-3; 35 pts.)

MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season - Match 21

Dick's Sporting Goods Park - Commerce City, Colorado

SCORING SUMMARY ‚

TEAM ‚ 1H 2H FT ‚

Colorado Rapids II 1 0 1

Houston Dynamo 2

2 1 3

COL: Diego Rubio 1 (Darren Yapi 1) 18'

HOU: Diego Gonzalez 8 (unassisted) 39'

HOU: Isaiah Reid 5 (Isaiah LeFlore 5) 40'

HOU: Jacob Evans 3 (Sebastian Rodriguez 1) 63'

LINEUPS

Colorado Rapids II: Marko Ilic, Steven Beitashour (Jackson Travis 61'), Aboubacar Keita, Moise Bombito, Sebastian Anderson, Sam Nicholson (Dillon Serna 81'), Ralph Priso (Oliver Larraz 77'), Darren Yapi, Diego Rubio (Daouda Amadou 46'), Kévin Cabral (Yosuke Hanya 81'), Rafael Navarro (Marlon Vargas 46')

Unused substitutes: Adam Beaudry, Robinson Aguirre, Blake Malone

Total shots: 20 (Sam Nicholson and Darren Yapi tied with 4); Shots on goal: 5 (Sam Nicholson, Diego Rubio, Kevin Cabral and Rafael Navarro tied with 1); Fouls: 9 (Darren Yapi 3); Offside: 1 (Rafael Navarro 1); Corner kicks: 13; Saves: 1 (Marko Ilic 1)

Houston Dynamo 2: Xavier Valdez, Isaiah LeFlore, Talen Maples, Tate Lampman, Mujeeb Murana, Brooklyn Raines (Charles Auguste 25'), Sebastian Rodriguez (Paolo Ríos 64'), Jacob Evans (Omar Grey 78'), Isaiah Reid (Zeke Soto 53'), Diego Gonzalez, Papa Ndoye

Unused substitutes: Andrew Pannenberg, Ifeanyi Udanoh, Yair Gonzalez, Jesus Orejuela, Brian Alanis

Total shots: 7 (Diego Gonzalez 3); Shots on goal: 4 (Jacob Evans, Isaiah Reid and Diego Gonzalez tied with 1); Fouls: 10 (Isaiah LeFlore, Sebastian Rodriguez, Diego Gonzalez and Charles Auguste tied with 2); Offside: 2 (Sebastian Rodriguez and Charles Auguste tied with 1); Corner kicks: 3; Saves: 4 (Xavier Valdez 4)

DISCIPLINE: ‚ ‚

HOU: Sebastian Rodriguez (caution; not retreating) 34'

COL: Moise Bombito (caution; foul) 46'

COL: Darren Yapi (caution; foul) 75'

HOU: Charles Auguste (caution; foul) 80'

COL: Daouda Amadou (caution; foul) 82'

OFFICIALS: ‚ ‚

Referee: Michael Zapata

Assistant Referee: Karsten Gillwald

Assistant Referee: Charles Rupert

Fourth Official: ‚ Joshua Belzer

Weather: 77 degrees, clear skies

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