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Houston Dynamo 2

Houston Dynamo 2 Defeat LA Galaxy II and Qualify for MLS NEXT Pro Postseason

September 24, 2023 - MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Houston Dynamo 2 News Release


CARSON, Calif. - Houston Dynamo 2 earned a postseason berth following their 2-1 victory over LA Galaxy II earlier today at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Dynamo 2 advances to MLS NEXT Pro playoffs for the second consecutive season and the playoff matchups will be determined next week as part of the new postseason format. The new format features a "pick-your-opponent" structure in the first two rounds.

Dynamo 2 took the lead in the 23rd minute of the match after forward Papa Ndoye was on the receiving end of a corner kick on the far side of the field. Ndoye was left unmarked inside the six-yard box as the ball made its way past the Galaxy backline and the forward was able to score his 14th goal of the regular season.

Galaxy II equalized in the 59th minute after LA's Gino Vivi was able to sneak the ball into the back of the net past Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Xavier Valdez.

Houston regained the lead in the 71st minute following a free kick that was earned by forward Yair Gonzalez. The ensuing free kick fell to defender Talen Maples inside the six-yard box. The 24-year-old hit the ball with the outside of the right foot for the crucial go-ahead goal.

Houston's first opportunity of the game came in the fourth minute after midfielder Diego Gonzalez found space inside the box. Gonzalez retained possession in the box but was unable to find the back of the net before the Galaxy II defense was able to recover.

Four minutes later, Houston had another opportunity to take the lead after Dynamo 2 took a short corner. Defender Isaiah LeFLore was the recipient of the corner and he crossed the ball into the box. Ndoye got on the end of the cross but narrowly missed the inside of the far post.

Valdez made a critical save after referee Corbyn May awarded LA Galaxy II a penalty kick in the 12th minute. Maples conceded the penalty kick after he was called for a handball inside the box. Galaxy II forward Adrian Gonzalez took the ensuing penalty kick that was saved at the bottom corner of the left post by Valdez.

Houston Dynamo Academy product Sebastian Rodriguez found LeFlore in the 51st minute, but his shot from outside the of the box missed the right side of the goal.

Valdez was called into action again in the 54th minute after Vivi took a shot from distance that forced the Dominican Republic international to make the save and punch the ball up and over the cross bar.

The first round of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs kicks off on the weekend of September 29. All playoff matches will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+.

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LA Galaxy II (5-17-6; 25 pts.) 1-2 Houston Dynamo 2 (12-12-4; 43 pts.)

MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season - Match 28

Dignity Health Sports Complex - Carson, California

SCORING SUMMARY ‚

TEAM ‚ 1H 2H FT ‚

LA Galaxy II 0 1 1

Houston Dynamo 2 1 1 2

HOU: Papa Ndoye 14 (Paolo Rios) 19'

LA: Gino Vivi 3 (Axel Picazo 3) 59'

HOU: Talen Maples 4 (unassisted) 71'

LINEUPS

LA Galaxy II: Nolan Anderson, Riley Dalgado, Ascel Essengue, Marcus Ferkranus (Emiliano Garcia 75'), Carson Klein (Allan Legaspi 45'), Adam Saldaña, Adrián González (Nicolas Schelotto 45'), Gino Vivi, Brandon Téllez, Axel Picazo (Sergio Villalpando 75'), Julian Placias

Unused substitutes: Aaron Cervantes, Eligiah Amadin, Diego Rodriguez, Juan Calderon

Total shots: 11 (Gino Vivi with 3); Shots on goal: 6 (Gino Vivi with 3); Fouls: 15 (Axel Picazo and Julian Placias tied with 4); Offside: 1; Corner kicks: 3; Saves: 0

Houston Dynamo 2: Xavier Valdez, Isaiah LeFlore, Talen Maples, Tate Lampman (Mujeeb Murana 78'), Jathan Juarez (Omar Grey 66'), Diego Gonzalez, Paolo Ríos, Sebastian Rodriguez, Isaiah Reid (Yair Gonzalez 66'), Jacob Evans, Papa Ndoye (Joyner Castillo 66')

Unused substitutes: Andrew Pannenberg, Jesus Orejuela, David Nguema, Zeke Soto, Ify Udanoh

Total shots: 9 (Isaiah LeFlore, Papa Ndoye and Yair Gonzalez tied with 2); Shots on goal: 2 (Papa Ndoye and Talen Maples tied with 1); Fouls: 11 (Talen Maples with 4); Offside: 1; Corner kicks: 4; Saves: 5 (Xavier Valdez with 5)

DISCIPLINE: ‚ ‚

LA: Axel Picazo (caution; foul) 63'

LA: Marcus Ferkranus (caution; foul) 70'

OFFICIALS: ‚ ‚

Referee: Corbyn May

Assistant Referee: Chris Canales

Assistant Referee: Benjamin Davis

Fourth Official: ‚ Adrian Gonzalez

Weather: 72 degrees, hazy skies

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