MNUFC2 faced Houston Dynamo 2 on Sunday night at the National Sports Center Stadium that ended in a 3-1 loss for the home team. The Twos lone goal came from midfielder Aidan Martinez, marking his first professional goal.
In the ninth minute, MNUFC2 got three back-to-back shots from a set piece opportunity. Molik Jesse Khan lofted a great ball into the box where defender Morris Duggan and forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith each had consecutive shots on target that were saved by the Houston Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Xavier Valdez before the final shot went over the goal.
Houston Dynamo 2 found the opening goal in the 10th minute after Mattheo Dimareli took space up the right side of the pitch and crossed it back towards the top of the 18-yard box. Where he found teammate Ousmane Sylla who fired off a right-footed shot to find the back of the net.
Dynamo 2 almost doubled their lead 15 minutes into the match as forward Annor Gyamfi put the ball into the back of the net but was immediately ruled offside.
Adebayo-Smith won another free kick opportunity just outside the 18-yard box a minute later. He took the shot himself but didn’t challenge the opposing keeper, having shot it out of frame.
Yet again, the Twos had another close scoring opportunity in the 37 minute. Adebayo-Smith, on the counter-attack, gained possession in the middle third after Darius Randell served a long ball up the pitch. Adebayo-Smith on the touch created a one-versus-one with Valdez where he took a shot from the left side of the 18-yard box that hit off the opposite goal post.
The Twos down by one goal going into half-time created multiple goal scoring chances but weren’t able to capitalize after out shooting Houston Dynamo 2, 11 shots to seven in the first half. On the other end of the pitch, MNUFC2 defense held a strong line against Dynamo 2 forwards having two goals called offside, keeping the score 1-0 in the first half.
Dynamo 2 doubled their lead over the Twos in the 51st minute of the match. Midfielder Sebatian Rodriguez blocked a pass by Finn McRobb on the far side of the field and passed it to midfielder Diego Gonzalez. He then crossed the ball into the box where Annor Gyamfi made a run towards goal and headed the ball past goalkeeper Adam Heiden.
Heiden made an important save after Houston Dynamo 2 captain Gonzalez fired an open shot from the left corner of the 18-yard line that Heiden dove off his line to save.
After many close opportunities at goal, the Twos finally got their first goal of the match in the 39th minute. After winning a free kick about 40 yards out. Khan crossed the ball over towards the edge of the 18-yard-box. Defender Britton Fischer got a head to it, putting it across goal where it landed to the feet of Midfielder Aiden Martinez after bouncing in front of goal and finished the play getting his first professional goal.
Minutes after the Twos scored their first goal, they nearly equalized the score after Khan fired a long-range shot that hit off the left goal post and back out into play. Patrick Weah found the other side of the ricochet and took a shot from the left flank that was deflected back out to Rory O’Driscoll for a one-touch shot inside the 18-yard box that was saved by Valdez.
The Texas side found their third goal in the 83rd minute after a one-two sequence between Sebastian Rodriguez and Isaiah Reid on the right flank allowed Reid to fire off a close-range shot on goal.
GOALS
0-1 HOU2 - Ousmane Sylla, assisted by Mattheo Dimareli (10’)
0-2 HOU2 - Stephan Annor Gyamfi, assisted by Diego Gonzales (51’)
1-2 MNUFC2 - Aidan Martinez, assisted by Britton Fischer (68’)
1-3 HOU2 - Isaiah Reid, assisted by Sebastian Rodriguez (83’)
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
Caution, HOU2 - Tate Lampman (8’)
Caution, MNUFC2 - Morris Duggan (45’)
Caution, MNUFC2 - Kage Romanshyn (46’)
Caution, MNUFC2 - Patrick Weah (52’)
Caution, HOU2 - Xavier Valdez (53’)
Caution, HOU2 - Josue Souza Dos Santos (67’)
Caution, MNUFC2 - William Schmidt (80’)
NOTABLE STATS
1- U-19 Academy goalkeeper Adam Heiden made his first MLS NEXT Pro start and debut against Houston Dynamo 2 on June 30 at the National Sports Stadium.
1- MNUFC Academy U17 midfielder Aidan Martinez scored his first professional goal at home against Houston Dynamo 2 on June 30.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through June 26)
Goals – Patrick Weah (8)
Assists – Three players tied (2)
Saves – Alec Smir (19)
Wins – Alec Smir (2)
Shutouts – Clint Irwin (1)
