Houston Dynamo 2 drew 1-1 (4-3 pens.) against Earthquakes II to take the team’s record to 8-4-2. In the shootout from the penalty spot at the end of the game, Dynamo 2 came out on top to grab an extra point on the road.
In the shootout, goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg saved the first shot from San Jose. This would prove important, as midfielders Juan Castilla, Brooklyn Raines, Marcelo Palomino and* D’Alessandro Herrera *all converted their shots before Pannenberg blocked a final shot from San Jose to give Houston two points.
The first goal of the match came in the 51st minute, as Raines and Palomino combined to create space before forward Kyle Edwards ran in and put away the final ball in the near corner to give Houston a 1-0 lead. It was Edwards’ first goal in MLS NEXT Pro competition and first as a member of Houston Dynamo 2.
Earthquakes II found the equalizer in the 90th minute as Erick Reyes’ long cross found Will Richmond, whose late run into the box resulted in a goal to tie the score 1-1.
In the 63rd minute, it looked as if Houston had taken a 2-0 lead, as defender Talen Maples headed in a pass off of a corner kick from Castilla. However, the goal was called off and the score remained 1-0.
Houston generated a dangerous chance on goal early, as forward Papa N’Doye settled with the ball inside the 18-yard box in just the second minute of the game and chipped in a cross that found the head of Edwards. Edwards’ header went directly into the arms of Earthquakes II goalkeeper to keep the game scoreless.
Dynamo 2 put more pressure on the goal in the 21st minute, as Edwards dispossessed a San Jose play of the ball before leaving a pass off for midfielder* Jacob Evans*, who took a slow rolling shot that went just wide of net for a corner kick.
Houston created another threatening attacking possession in the 30th minute, as midfielder Marcelo Palomino chipped in a pass over the back line to Edwards, whose shot went just over the crossbar and out of play.
After not being challenged for much of the first half, goalkeeper Andrew Pannenberg, fresh off of his first shutout performance last weekend against Tacoma Defiance, was forced into action in the 35th minute, as San Jose’s Eduardo Blancas found space at the top of the 18-yard box and let off a shot that forced Pannenberg to make a diving save.
Dynamo 2 nearly went into the second half up a goal, as a 43rd-minute corner kick was played short and found defender Micael Dos Santos Silva. Silva got a shot off but was unable to hit the target as the two teams went into halftime scoreless.
A 57th-minute corner kick gave Earthquakes II a chance to equalize, however Dynamo 2 stayed resolute in its defensive position, blocking two consecutive shots on goal to keep Houston ahead 1-0.
Dynamo 2 is back at AVEVA Stadium next weekend when they face off against Real Monarchs on Sunday, July 10 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
