MLS NEXT Pro Minnesota United FC 2

MNUFC2 Drops Close Match at Houston Dynamo 2

Published on July 24, 2022 under MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
Minnesota United FC 2 News Release


HOUSTON, Texas -- A defensive battle was played at AVEVA Stadium in Houston on Sunday night between MNUFC2 and Houston Dynamo 2, but the home side ultimately earned the three points in a close 1-0 victory.

Sunday's match between the two Western Conference sides was tight on the score line, but the balance throughout the box score leaned in favor of the home team in Dynamo 2. Houston controlled much of the possession on the night and with that control they took advantage. Dynamo 2 fired off 17 shots (four on target) compared to the Loons nine (three on target). Houston also had the edge in corners taken with eight compared to Minnesota's five. The first half saw chances flying for both sides, including runs from MNUFC2 midfielders Emmanuel Iwe and Aziel Jackson, but no goals prevailed. That changed for the home team in the second minute of added stoppage time when Jathan Juarez scored from atop the 18-yard box, giving Houston the 1-0 edge at halftime. But MNUFC2 kept up the fight, and in the 72nd minute, attacking midfielder Sagir Arce - who made his first MLS Next Pro start for the Loons - struck a powerful shot on goal which was ultimately saved. The match ended at 1-0 in favor of the Houston Dynamo 2 squad.

With the loss, MNUFC2 remains in the seventh position in the MLS Next Pro Western Conference standings (6-7-3, 24 points).

MNUFC2 returns home to take on Portland Timbers2 on July 31 at the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota. Kick is set for 7:00 p.m. CT, and the contest will be streamed live at www.mlsnextpro.com.

GOALS

0-1 HOU - Jathan Juarez, Assist by Brooklyn Raines (45'+2')

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

Yellow, HOU - Ethan Bartlow (22')

Yellow, MIN - Molik Jesse Khan (35')

Yellow, MIN - Nick Mendonca (60')

Yellow, MIN - Callum Montgomery (75')

Yellow, HOU - D'Alessandro Herrera (84')

Yellow, MIN - Sagir Arce (85')

NOTABLE STATS

4 - Midfielder Aziel Jackson provided four key passes against Houston Dynamo 2, which moves him into the top spot in MLS Next Pro in key passes made with 41 to-date

5 - Loons defender Callum Montgomery led the team in clearances with five on the night

TEAM LEADERS (Updated through July 24)

Goals - Aziel Jackson (6)

Assists - Aziel Jackson (5)

Saves - Fred Emmings (33)

Wins - Fred Emmings (3)

Shutouts - Eric Dick (2)

MLS NEXT PRO STANDINGS, WESTERN CONFERENCE (Through July 24)

(W,L,D, points) SOW*

1. Tacoma Defiance (10-3-4, 37 points) 3

2. St. Louis CITY2 (11-3-2, 36 points) 1

3. Houston Dynamo 2 (10-4-3, 35 points) 2

4. North Texas SC (9-5-3, 31 points) 1

5. Whitecaps FC 2 (7-4-6, 29 points) 2

6. Earthquakes II (8-6-3, 28 points) 1

7. MNUFC2 (6-7-3, 24 points) 3

8. Sporting KC 2 (7-8-2, 23 points) 0

9. Colorado Rapids 2 (5-9-3, 20 points) 2

10. Real Monarchs (2-12-2, 8 points) 0

11. Timbers2 (1-13-2, 7 points) 2

MNUFC2 POST GAME QUOTE SHEET

HEAD COACH CAMERON KNOWLES

On his thoughts following the match against Houston Dynamo 2...

"We knew it was going to be a difficult place to play. They've won a lot of games here, it's a difficult place to take points from. But for the most part, I thought we played quite well. We were better in the second half than the first. I think we could've had a little more maturity towards the end of the first half and have gone into halftime at 0-0, recognizing in that moment towards the end of the half that we're on the road and have been under little bit of pressure at the end of that half, and let's just get in the locker room at 0-0 then re-evaluate things. So, to come in 1-0 down was a little unfortunate. But, I thought the response from the players in the second half was very good. We were more aggressive in the way we defended, we had more of the ball and were a little bit more braver in possession and that resulted in a few more chances for us. But, we were unable to capitalize."

On the message to the team to rebound ahead of returning home next week...

"We evaluate each game on its merit. We have to learn from the moments in the game. It's the little details that we have to take care of to create chances and put the ball in the back of the net and to see results. We've played a few good second halves, but dug ourselves [in] a hole in the first, and we need to start starting games the way that we're finishing them. If we can do that and continue that through 90 minutes, then we'll probably get back to seeing some results. We have a really good opportunity this coming weekend at home, and the remaining slate of games with the balance being at home, to start getting back to putting together full 90 minutes."

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