The playoff push continues as Houston Dynamo 2 travels to the Pacific Northwest this Sunday, Sept. 29, to face Tacoma Defiance at Starfire Sports Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. CT, and fans can follow the action live on MLSNEXTPro.com.
Houston currently sits above the playoff line and can secure a spot in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs this weekend with a victory over Tacoma and with additional results going their way. Dynamo 2 can earn a postseason berth if Austin FC II earns two points or less, Sporting Kansas City II earns one point or less and a Portland Timbers 2 shootout loss. The team is looking to secure their third consecutive berth in the MLS NEXT Pro postseason.
Dynamo 2 closed Matchweek 28 on a strong note with a 2-1 victory over Colorado Rapids 2 at SaberCats Stadium. Dynamo 2 captain and midfielder Diego Gonzalez scored the first goal of the match and his fifth of the season from the penalty spot in the 28th minute. Andy Batioja, who recently joined the team on loan, doubled Houston’s lead in the 81st minute after a quick counterattack that began with Ousmane Sylla. The Senegalese midfielder found Batioja just outside the box, where he scored his debut goal with a shot that curved towards the bottom right corner of the goal.
The victory over Colorado secured Jeremy Hurdle’s second victory as Dynamo 2 interim head coach, and featured defender Daniel Barret’s first start with the team, where the 15-year-old finished the match with five tackles won.
Tacoma enters Sunday’s fixture with a playoff spot secured as they sit fifth in the Western Conference Standings with a 12-9-5 (WLD) record and 43 points. They’ve won two out of their last five games, falling 3-1 to Vancouver and earning a point in penalty shootout against Real Monarchs in their most recent matches. Midfielder Chris Aquino leads the team with 10 goals.
The match will mark the second meeting between the two sides as Houston looks to snap a five-game winless streak that stretches back to the 2022 season. The two teams have also faced each other in back-to-back appearances in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs with Tacoma taking both games.
Dynamo 2 returns to SaberCats Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 6 to face Vancouver Whitecaps 2 for their last match of the regular season.
