HOUSTON (Aug. 11, 2024) – Houston Dynamo 2 drew 1-1 against St. Louis City II at SaberCats Stadium earlier this evening and claimed the two points following a key save from Homegrown goalkeeper Xavier Valdez. Defender Tate Schmitt scored the fourth and final penalty kick of the evening to secure Houston’s second shootout victory of the season.
Dynamo 2 opened the scoring in the final minutes of the first half after forward Gabriel Segal found the back of the net with a free kick from nearly 40 yards out. The forward has now scored five goals in his last four games for Dynamo 2.
St. Louis forced the penalty kick shootout after they scored the equalizer in the 74th minute off a left-footed shot from Hosei Kijima from the edge of the box.
Houston’s first opportunity of the game came in the eighth minute after Segal tried to find the far post with a direct free kick.
Ten minutes later, Segal would step up again, taking his chances from deep and forcing a save from St. Louis’ goalkeeper Nick Bishop.
Another scoring opportunity arose in the 30th minute after defender Jeferson Medina found forward Mattheo Dimareli on the right flank. The 15-year-old fired his shot slightly above the crossbar. Dimareli was one of six Houston Dynamo Academy players or alums to take the field tonight for Dynamo 2.
Segal continued to be an attacking threat, almost finding the back of the net in the 43rd minute. Dynamo 2 captain Diego Gonzalez served a cross that found Segal in the center of the box, but the forward hit right woodwork. Gonzalez led the team with four chances created tonight against St. Louis.
Gonzalez tried to put himself on the scoring sheet in the 52nd minute following a right-footed shot inside the box, just missing the inside of the far post.
Houston’s final opportunity came off the left foot of Jahmani Bell in the third minute of added time.
Dynamo 2 travels to Arlington, Texas next Saturday, Aug. 17 to face North Texas SC and return to SaberCats Stadium on Aug. 21 to host Minnesota United FC 2. Tickets for that match, and all Dynamo 2 games are free and available HERE.
