THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (July 5, 2024) – Houston Dynamo 2 closed a two-game road trip with a 1-1 draw against Ventura County FC. The home team won the penalty shootout 3-2 to claim an additional point.
Ventura County took the lead in the 27th minute following a foul outside the box. Isaiah Parente took the ensuing free kick that was headed toward the penalty spot and Gabriel Arnold capitalized on the loose ball for the first goal of the match.
Dynamo 2 scored the equalizer in the 53rd minute off a cross from Dynamo Academy alum Kieran Sargeant toward the far post. Captain Diego Gonzalez caught the ball off the volley for his second goal of the year.
Houston forward Ousmane Sylla forced a save in the 31st minute with a shot from outside the box. Sylla scored in Houston’s 3-1 victory last Sunday over Minnesota United FC 2.
Dynamo Academy player Mattheo Dimareli generated Houston’s first threat of the evening with a run into the box, he created space for a shot that was blocked by the Ventura County backline near the endline. Dimareli was one of nine Dynamo Academy players or alums to take the field tonight.
Dynamo 2’s final opportunity of the first half came off the left foot of Dimareli in the 45th minute. His shot was blocked inside the box. The 15-year-old finished with five duels won, the most of any Dynamo 2 player tonight.
Dynamo 2 forward Isaiah Reid created space for a shot at the top of the box in the 83rd minute but his shot went wide of the near post. Reid scored in back-to-back games entering this match.
Ventura County responded with a shot from Riley Delgado moments later that forced a save from Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Xavier Valdez. The Dynamo goalkeeper finished with two saves against Ventura County tonight. Valdez also tallied two saves in the penalty shootout after regulation.
Houston’s final opportunity of the second half came off the right foot of Gonzalez in the third minute of stoppage time off a free kick that was saved by Brady Scott.
Dynamo 2 returns to SaberCats Stadium on July 11 to host Austin FC II. Tickets for that match, and all Dynamo 2 games at SaberCats Stadium are free and available HERE.
