HOUSTON (Sept. 8, 2024) – Houston Dynamo 2 played Ventura County FC to a 2-2 draw at SaberCats Stadium earlier this evening behind a brace from captain and midfielder Diego Gonzalez.
The Houston Dynamo Academy product has four goals to his name this season. Gonzalez continues to lead Dynamo 2 and MLS NEXT Pro with nine assists and 70 key passes.
Houston got on the board first with Gonzalez scoring from the penalty spot following a foul inside the box by goalkeeper Brady Scott in the 15th minute.
Gonzalez then found the back of the net again, finishing the night with a brace in the 45th minute after the midfielder took advantage of a defensive mistake by Ventura County’s backline and finished towards the right side of the goal during a one-on-one situation with the keeper.
Ventura County pulled one back in the 58th minute with a left-footed curler towards the far post from forward Ruben Ramos Jr.
Forward Ifunanyachi Achara later forced a penalty shootout for the Southern Californian team after equalizing in the 78th minute with an over the head goal near the center of the box.
Houston created their first dangerous chance in the seventh minute when Gonzalez found forward Stephen Annor in the center of the box. Annor got the ball in the air, headed it towards the bottom left corner, forcing a save from the Ventura County goalkeeper.
Annor continued to be an attacking threat and tried to put himself on the scoring sheet twice, once in the 16th minute with a right-footed shot that hit the left post, and the other in the 25th minute, where the forward tried his luck from deep with a powerful strike that hit the crossbar. The Ghana international finished the night with five shots and two chances created.
Midfielder Mattheo Dimareli had Houston’s ninth shot of the night in the 50th minute when the 15-year-old found the hands of the Ventura County goalkeeper with a shot towards the left side of the goal.
Gonzalez gave Houston its final opportunity of the night after drawing a foul in the last few minutes of stoppage time. The midfielder took the free kick from just outside the box and hit the top of the woodwork.
Dynamo 2 will next hit the road on Friday, Sept. 13 to face off against in-state rivals Austin FC II at Parmer Field.
