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 clinch a berth in the postseason.
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 sixth 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 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 regular season. 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.
