Houston Dynamo 2 fell 1-0 to Vancouver Whitecaps 2 to close out a two-game road slate on Sunday evening. This was only the second time Dynamo 2 was held scoreless this season.
Seven minutes into the match midfielder Yair Gonzalez took a shot from 30 yards out that was deflected out of bound by a Whitecaps 2 player for a corner kick. The ensuing kick was taken by forward Diego Gonzalez whose corner kick was easily handled by Whitecaps 2 goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer.
Midfielder Paolo Rios made a crucial interception in the 15th minute to save an open look at goal by Whitecaps 2 attacker Jean-Claude Ngando. Rios made a last-second tackle to deflect the ball out of bounds for a corner kick.
Houston applied pressure in the 28th minute and nearly equalized after midfielder Jacob Evans found Diego Gonzalez on the near side. Diego Gonzalez took the shot on goal and forced Boehmer to make a save. The deflection fell to forward Papa N’Doye, whose second attempt went over the crossbar.
Houston nearly scored after Evans took a shot on goal in the 32nd minute from the top of the box to force another save. Forward Zeke Soto was standing in front of goal and tapped the rebound into the net but was called offside.
In the 57th minute of the match the Vancouver attack placed pressure on the Dynamo 2 back line. Through traffic Houston goalkeeper Xavier Valdez made a key stop to preserve the tie.
Defender Talen Maples made a key defensive stand a few minutes later to stop the attack by Kamron Habibullah. Maples took on Habibullah one-on-one and dispossessed the attacker in the penalty box before he could take a shot.
Valdez made another crucial save in the 77th minute to keep the score even at 0-0.
Whitecaps 2 scored in the 79th minute of the match after Vancouver pressured the Dynamo Dos backline into losing possession inside the box. Jean-Claude Ngando capitalized on the loose ball for the game-winning goal.
In the 87th minute N’Doye crossed the ball into the box where forward Beto Avila was waiting to head the ball in. The cross was slightly over Avila’s head and went directly into the hands of the Vancouver goalkeeper.
Dynamo Dos made an effort in the final moments of the match that could have forced a late shootout. The Vancouver backline was able to clear out the ball before Houston could equalize.
Houston Dynamo 2 returns to SaberCats Stadium on Sunday, May 14 to host Real Monarchs.
