HOUSTON (Aug. 21, 2024) – Houston Dynamo 2 opened a two-game homestand with a 4-1 victory over Minnesota United FC 2 at SaberCats Stadium earlier today. The match featured a hat-trick from midfielder Ousmane Sylla as well as two 16-year-olds in Houston’s starting XI. Sylla and Gabe Segal are now tied for the most goals scored this season with seven.
Rory O’Driscoll gave Minnesota the lead from the penalty spot following a foul inside the box by goalkeeper Xavier Valdez in the 27th minute. That was Minnesota’s lone shot on target this evening.
Dynamo 2 fired back moments later, leveling the match in the 35th minute after Segal pulled off a dummy pass following a low cross from Mattheo Dimareli, that found Sylla for the tap-in.
Two minutes later, Sylla stepped up again for his second goal of the night. Dynamo Academy alum Kieran Sargeant found Sylla open inside the box. The 22-year-old beat his defender with a quick feint to his left and finished towards the right side of the keeper.
Houston extended their lead in the 58th minute after Sargeant found space behind the Minnesota backline. He played the ball to Segal for his seventh goal of the season.
Sylla finished with a hat-trick after finding the back of the net in the 85th minute. The ball fell into the feet of the midfielder after Stephen Annor’s shot was saved at the edge of the box. Once he controlled the ball, Sylla chipped the Minnesota goalkeeper for Houston’s fourth and final goal of the night.
Houston’s first opportunity of the match came in the 10th minute. Sylla set himself up at the top of the 18-yard box and hit the crossbar with a right-footed shot.
Segal tried to put himself on the scoring sheet twice, once in the 22nd minute with a close-range shot that was handled by the Minnesota goalkeeper and the other in the fourth minute of the first half stoppage time, where the forward tried his luck with a free kick from 40-yards out.
Houston got their final opportunity of the night in the 89th minute following a through ball from Sylla that found Isaiah Reid free on the right flank. Reid dribbled into the box before finding the keeper's' feet with a right-footed shot.
Dynamo Dos close the two-game homestead on Sunday, Aug. 25 against Minnesota at SaberCats Stadium. Tickets for that match and all Dynamo Dos matches at SaberCats Stadium are free and available HERE.
