THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (March 26, 2025) – Houston Dynamo 2 fell 1-0 on the road to Ventura County FC tonight in their first road trip of the season despite a flurry of attacking opportunities for Houston throughout the match.
Notably, the match featured two professional debuts in midfielder Lionel Gitau, who came on to the pitch as second half substitute, and goalkeeper Roman Kerimov, who started between the sticks for Dynamo Dos.
Ventura County took the lead in the 58th minute after Luis Müller found the bottom left corner with a left-footed strike from outside the box.
Kerimov was called into action early in the second minute after Müller forced the 17-year-old to get low and safely secure the shot. The young goalkeeper went on to finish the night with six saves.
The host almost took the lead in the 18th minute when Sean Karani went on a full sprint from midfield and dribbled around Kerimov for a right-footed shot before defender Felipe Andrade prevented the goal with a superb goal line clearance.
Andrade had Dynamo 2’s first shot on target in the 22nd minute with a header that found the hands of Brady Scott.
A minute later, midfielder Noah Betancourt gave Dynamo Dos another scoring opportunity off a cross from Dynamo 2 and midfielder Diego Gonzalez. Betancourt received the ball at the far post for a powerful header that hit the crossbar before getting cleared by Ventura County’s backline.
Kerimov stepped up again in the 29th minute, making a diving save to his left when Christopher Rindov headed the ball from outside the six-yard box.
Forward Andy Batioja fired a shot in the 40th minute from just outside the box that forced a save from the Ventura County goalkeeper.
Dynamo 2 had another dangerous chance in the 62nd minute when Batioja laid off a pass to Gonzalez just outside the box, where the midfielder forced a diving save from Scott with a right-footed strike to the bottom left corner.
Kerimov prevented a Ventura County scoring opportunity in the 72nd minute by getting in front of Karani to block the shot away.
Dynamo 2 return to Houston on Sunday, March 30 to host Minnesota United FC 2. Fans can claim free tickets for all Dynamo Dos matches HERE.
