Houston Dynamo 2 found victory over Real Monarchs 3-0 at Sabercats Stadium tonight, earning their first win at home this season.
The match was paused in the 58th minute due to inclement weather near the stadium. The teams returned to the field after a 67-minute delay to resume play.
Additionally, Real Monarchs played the final 36 minutes of the match with 10 men, as Omar Alba was shown a second yellow card and ejected from the match after fouling defender Chase Gasper.
Dynamo Dos took the lead in the 31st minute after the forward Beto Avila scored shortly after coming in as an injury substitute in the 14th minute. Avila applied pressure on the Real Monarchs backline and forced the goalkeeper to turn the ball over in front of the goal. Avila then finished off the shot from a short distance in front of an empty net.
During the first minute of first half stoppage time, Dynamo Dos extended its lead after defender Djevencio van der Kust found the back of the net for the first time this season with a left-footed shot from the near side. Defender Talen Maples intercepted the ball at midfield and connected with Avila in the 18-yard box who then found van der Kust open on the left side of the goal.
Midfielder Diego Gonzalez scored his third goal of the season in the 72nd minute after a quick touch and strike from a top the 18-yard box. Avila found Gonzalez who turned and threaded the ball in between the near post and a diving Real Monarchs goalkeeper.
Five minutes into the match midfielder Jacob Evans forced Real Monarchs goalkeeper Fernando Delgado to make the first save of the night. Dynamo Dos maintained possession in the Monarchs half but was unable convert before the ball was cleared by the defense.
Forward Papa N’Doye had another open look on goal in the 16th minute that again forced a save. N’Doye was able to get past two defenders and find space to take the shot that forced a last-minute stop.
Midfielder Diego Gonzalez nearly extended the lead in the 45th minute of the match after taking a free kick that hit the crossbar after Delgado made the save.
In the first 10 minutes after the weather delay, Dynamo Dos returned looking for another goal, applying pressure and keeping the ball on the Real Monarchs half of the field. In that stretch, Houston forced five corners and had five shots.
Defender Tate Lampman, Houston Dynamo Academy product, came on in the 79th minute as a substitute to make his professional debut.
Dynamo 2 next travels north to Arlington to take on in-state rival North Texas SC on Sunday, May 21 at Choctaw Stadium. Houston returns to SaberCats Stadium on May 28 to host Austin FC II for the first time this season after opening the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro season against Austin FC II on March 28 at St. David’s Performance Center in Austin.
