Houston Dynamo 2 defeated Sporting KC II 3-1 at SaberCats Stadium tonight, propelled by another hat trick from forward Papa Ndoye.
The 24-year-old from Senegal netted three goals in last week’s victory over Real Monarchs, becoming the first MLS NEXT Pro player in history to record two regular-season hat tricks, as well as complete the feat in back-to-back matches.
Dynamo Dos opened scoring in the ninth minute when a ball was delivered from the left side of the penalty box. SKC II goalkeeper Ethan Bandré tipped the ball away from goal, but it fell to Ndoye, who knocked the ball into the open net at the back post.
Houston won a penalty two minutes later when forward Isaiah Reid was pushed down in the left side of the penalty box by Chris Rindov. Ndoye stepped up to the spot and sent the goalkeeper diving in the wrong direction, slotting the attempt into the bottom right corner for his 10th goal of the season.
SKC II won a penalty in the 56th minute when Houston goalkeeper Xavier Valdez fouled Alenis Vargas on the edge of the six-yard box. Josh Coan converted the penalty for his fourth goal of the season to put the visitors on the board.
Dynamo Dos won another penalty in the 97th minute when midfielder Jacob Evans was fouled just outside the left side of the six-yard box. Ndoye hammered his shot into the roof of the net to complete back-to-back hat tricks.
Houston played stoppage time with 10 men after defender Jathan Jaurez was shown his second yellow card in the 92nd minute for a two-footed challenge.
Houston had the first dangerous chance of the match in the seventh minute when Ndoye played a quick ball to defender Mujeeb Murana, who was running into the right side of the penalty box. Murana whipped the ball across the face of goal, but midfielder Brooklyn Raines a was just beat to the ball by SKC II defenders.
Dynamo Dos almost netted a third goal in the 14th minute when Ndoye again played a ball to Murana running in to the right side of the penalty box. Murana whipped a quick ball to the bottom right corner of goal, but Bandré managed to get his body in the way to end the danger.
Houston had another shot on goal in the 16th minute when midfielder Jacob Evans took a shot from the right corner of the six-yard box, which bounced behind goal off the left post.
Valdez made a tremendous diving save to the right side in the 32nd minute on a shot from Amadou Traoré to keep SKC II off the board. The Dominican Republic international ended the night with four saves.
Dynamo Dos almost scored a third goal in the 54th minute when forward Isaiah Reid found himself with the ball in front of goal, but multiple SKC II defenders managed to block the shot away from the net.
Evans took a dip from range in the 59th minute with a strong strike that did not miss the frame by much.
Houston kept the pressure on SKC II throughout the match, as forward Zeke Soto forced a diving save from Bandré in the 91st minute from the middle of the penalty box.
Dynamo 2 next travel to Colorado to face Rapids 2 on Wednesday, August 9 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT.
