Houston Dynamo 2 split the regular season series with Timbers 2 after they fell 2-1 on the road in Oregon earlier today.
Dynamo 2 took the lead in the 14th minute after midfielder Marcelo Palomino was brought down inside the box. Forward Papa N’Doye converted from the penalty spot in the 15th minute for his fourth goal of season.
Timbers scored the equalizer in the 80th minute following a cross from Selmir Miscic that found Dawson McCartney. Seconds before the final whistle, David Ayala found Zac McGraw inside the box and his header secured three points for Timbers 2.
Houston’s first shot of the game came in the 13th minute off a corner kick that found defender Talen Maples at the far post, but his header went wide. The Dynamo forced a save minutes later after Palomino dribbled inside the box to create space for a shot that was saved by Timbers 2 goalkeeper Justin vorn Steeg.
Portland responded in the 22nd minute following a shot from Victor Griffith at the edge of the box that would eventually end with a sequence of four blocked shots in a span of 11 seconds. The Dynamo backline combined for nine blocked shots tonight and Dynamo goalkeeper Xavier Valdez finished with two saves.
Dynamo midfielder Jacob Evans nearly doubled Houston’s lead in the 33rd minute, but his header was saved at the near post by the Timbers 2 goalkeeper.
Forward Kyle Edwards nearly doubled the lead for Houston in the 72nd minute, but his effort bounced off the crossbar and eventually cleared by Portland.
Valdez was called into action in the 77th minute after a corner kick found McCartney inside the box, his effort was denied by Valdez and eventually cleared by the Dynamo backline.
N’Doye nearly tallied his second goal of the evening in the 87th minute with a header that forced a save from the Timbers 2 shot stopper.
Dynamo 2 return to AVEVA Stadium on Sunday, June 26 to host the Tacoma Defiance at 7 p.m. CT.
