HOUSTON (March 27, 2024) – Houston Dynamo 2 return to SaberCats Stadium for a midweek clash versus in-state rivals and defending MLS NEXT Pro champions Austin FC II on Thursday, March 28. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, and tickets for all home Dynamo Dos matches at SaberCats Stadium are free and available HERE.
WHO: | Houston Dynamo 2 vs. Austin FC II
|
WHEN: | Thursday, March 28 – 7:00 p.m. CT |
STREAM/TV: | English: Josh Eastern |
Dynamo 2 will look to bounce back from a hard fought 3-2 loss at LAFC 2 in what was the team’s first road trip of the season. After falling behind to an early goal, Houston managed to take the lead back by halftime thanks to goals from forwards Exon Arzú and Stephen Annor. Arzú won a duel in the opposing half, dribbled into the box past the goalkeeper and managed to get just enough on the ball to roll over the goal line in the 29th minute. Annor managed to score in first-half stoppage time, capitalizing on intercepted pass inside the box. However, two second half goals from Los Angeles swung the result in the home team’s favor.
Arzú has now found the back of the net in each of Dynamo 2’s first two matches of the season, and the 19-year-old Honduran will be hunting his third consecutive scoring match on Thursday. Annor, who the Dynamo selected out of the University of Virginia in the first round (pick No. 26) of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, scored his first goal for the club in Los Angeles on Sunday, and the 20-year-old Senegal native will be looking for his first goal in front of the home crowd.
Goalkeeper Nico Hansen made his MLS NEXT Pro debut during Sunday’s match in Los Angeles, as the 22-year-old filled in for Xavier Valdez, who was on international duty with the Dominican Republic for friendlies versus Aruba and Peru.
Thursday will mark Austin’s first away match of the season after falling 3-1 at home to the Tacoma Defiance to kick off their campaign, despite a goal from Austin FC Academy product Bryan Arellano. Since that match, Austin FC II also bowed of the U.S. Open Cup in the First Round, falling in a penalty shootout to Foro SC after playing to a 2-2 draw in regulation.
The home teams won all three matchups in last season’s meetings between Houston and Austin. Those results included a 2-0 win for Houston in late May, with goals from midfielder Diego Gonzalez, who totaled 11 goals and six assists last season, and midfielder Charles Auguste. Both goals were assisted by first teamers Griffin Dorsey and Brooklyn Raines, respectively.
After hosting Austin, Dynamo Dos are scheduled to host one more match at SaberCats Stadium before a four-match road trip that spans from April into May that will take them to Kansas City, North Texas, San Jose and Salt Lake City.
