Houston Dynamo 2 closed a two-game homestand with a 2-1 loss to Earthquakes II earlier today at SaberCats Stadium.
Earthquakes II struck first in the 15th minute when Roberto Hategan dribbled on the right flank and found José Serrano running into the box. Serrano slotted the ball into the six-yard box to Eduardo Blancas, who poked the ball into the back of the net.
Houston responded five minutes later when midfielder Brooklyn Raines found fellow first-teamer Brad Smith running into the left side of the penalty box. The defender slotted the ball into the lower right corner of the net. Today marked the defender’s debut for Dynamo 2 and Raines’ first assist for the team in MLS NEXT Pro action.
San Jose took the lead again in the 35th minute when Roberto Hategan played a long diagonal ball to the middle of the field to Rodolfo Castro, who slotted the ball to the left of goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell.
Houston’s first opportunity came when midfielder Juan Castilla was fouled 10 yards outside the penalty box in the 18th minute. Castilla delivered a dangerous ball into the box, but the ball just carried across the endline.
Dynamo 2 had another chance in the 40th minute when midfielder Yair González found forward Diego Gonzalez in the middle of the box from the right corner, however the attacker’s shot was secured by ‘Quakes II goalkeeper Emmanuel Ochoa.
Minutes later, Raines hit the crossbar with a powerful shot off a half volley from the top of the box that would have tied the match at two goals apiece.
Houston had a strong chance in the 70th minute when the ball fell to forward Jacob Evans just outside the penalty box. The Englishman managed a strong strike that carried just past the far post and a diving Ochoa.
Dynamo 2 next travel to face the Tacoma Defiance at Cheney Stadium on Sunday, July 2 at 9:00 p.m. CT.
