Houston Dynamo 2 remained unbeaten at AVEVA Stadium with a 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City II this evening. The win improved Dynamo Dos’ mark at AVEVA to a perfect 7-0-0 on the year and moved them into a tie for second in the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference with 39 points through 19 games played.
Midfielder Marcelo Palomino opened the scoring in the third minute of added time at the end of the first half, as Houston drew a foul directly above the top of the 18-yard-box. Palomino curled in an inch-perfect shot, whipping the ball up and over the wall of SKC II defenders and back down to dip under the outstretched arms of the goalkeeper. It was Palomino’s fourth goal from a free kick on the season and his sixth overall, giving him sole possession of the team lead in goals scored this season.
Coming out of intermission, Dynamo 2 picked up right where it left off in the first half, as midfielder Brooklyn Raines received a pass from midfielder Juan Castilla and took a shot from the top of the penalty area that bounced off the post and into the back of the net to give Houston a 2-0 lead in the 48th minute. The goal was the 16-year-old’s first as a professional.
Houston extended the lead to 3-0 in the 77th minute when midfielder Jacob Evans slipped a pass to forward Kyle Edwards inside the penalty area to the right of goal and Edwards lifted a first-touch shot over the goalkeeper. The shot caromed off the crossbar and down into the back of the net.
Goalkeeper Xavier Valdez was credited with two saves on the night as he earned his fifth clean sheet of the season and the team’s eighth of the year.
Dynamo 2 nearly opened up the scoring in the 20th minute, as Raines secured possession in the attacking third, found Edwards at the top of the penalty area, where he slipped a nifty pass through two defenders to Evans for a shot in front of net that was pushed away by Kansas City’s goalkeeper.
On the ensuing corner kick, defender Micael dos Santos Silva got his head on the ball, but it was cleared off the goal line to keep the game scoreless for the time being.
Houston had another dangerous possession in the 29th minute, as midfielder Juan Castilla found Edwards with a through ball in the box. After Edwards’ shot was parried away by the goalkeeper, the ball fell to the feet of Raines, who got a shot off that was deflected over the crossbar and out for a corner kick.
Edwards got another shot off on target in the 37th minute. He struck the shot low and on target as the opposing goalkeeper was able to fall on the ball to attend the attacking play.
Houston continues its homestand next weekend as it plays host to Colorado Rapids 2 at AVEVA Stadium on Sunday, August 14 at 8:00 p.m. CT.
