HOUSTON (Oct. 6, 2024) – Houston Dynamo 2 qualified for the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro playoffs following their 3-1 victory over Whitecaps FC 2 at SaberCats Stadium earlier today. Dynamo 2 has now qualified for the postseason in three consecutive campaigns and their upcoming opponent will be determined at 2 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Oct. 8 during the Pick-Your-Opponent Selection Show on MLSNEXTPro.com.
Dynamo 2 captain Diego Gonzalez finished the regular season with six goals and tallied 10 assists. The Dynamo Academy product finished tied for the most assists in league play. Gonzalez has tallied 17 goals and 16 assists over the last two campaigns for Dynamo 2.
Houston got on the board first in the 28th minute after Gonzalez scored from the penalty spot following a foul inside the box by Vancouver’s backline.
Forward Gabe Segal doubled Dynamo 2’s lead in the 40th minute following a pass from Gonzalez that found the striker on the right side of the penalty box. Segal found the inside of the near post for his 10th goal of the year.
Vancouver pulled a goal back in the 56th minute with a low-driven shot from Rayan Elloumi that found the inside of the far post.
Houston extended their lead in the 61st minute after forward Exon Arzú found space behind the Vancouver backline. He played the ball to striker Isaiah Reid for a first-touch finish.
Midfielder Mattheo Dimareli almost put his name on the scoring sheet in the 13th minute when Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Xavier Valdez played a quick ball from his half of the field. The 15-year-old midfielder controlled the ball and dribbled into the Vancouver box, chipping the ball over a diving Alexander Milosevic. However, his effort was cleared off the goal line by Vancouver’s backline.
Gonzalez took his chances from outside the box in the 44th minute with a right-footed shot that deflected out for a corner kick.
Notably, forward Andy Batioja made his first MLS NEXT Pro regular season start with Dynamo 2 during today’s victory. Batioja forced a save from the Vancouver goalkeeper in the 64th minute following a right-footed shot that curled towards the inside of the far post.
Whitecaps 2 came close to scoring their second goal of the match in the 71st minute, but defender Femi Awodesu made a critical block inside the box. Arzu almost found the inside of the far post a moments later, but his low-driven shot just missed the target.
For additional information about Dynamo 2’s postseason, visit HoustonDyamoFC.com.
