Houston Dynamo 2 earned two points following a 3-2 shootout victory over Whitecaps FC 2 at SaberCats Stadium earlier today. The match finished 0-0 in regulation and the result extended Dynamo 2’s unbeaten streak to six games, the longest of the campaign.
Dynamo 2 captain Talen Maples scored the deciding penalty kick, which was followed by a miss from Levonte Johnson to secure two points for Houston. Dynamo 2 close the weekend with 37 points and in fifth place in the Western Conference. The top seven teams in each conference advance to the MLS NEXT Pro postseason.
Two minutes into the match Dynamo 2 midfielder Diego Gonzalez just missed the outside of the far post, his effort would have been the earliest goal scored for the team this season.
Gonzalez had another opportunity 10 minutes later in the 12th minute to give Houston the lead. The Houston Dynamo Academy product took the right-footed shot in front of goal, which forced Vancouver goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer to make the diving save. This was the first of seven saves that Dynamo 2 forced this evening at SaberCats Stadium.
Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell was called into action in the 35th minute after Jean-Claude Ngando took a shot on goal that forced a reaction from the veteran goalkeeper. Tarbell finished with three saves and his second clean sheet for Dynamo 2.
In the closing minutes of the first half, Houston defender Brad Smith took a shot from the left side of the goal, which forced Boehmer to make the diving stop to keep the game scoreless.
Tarbell’s final save of the first half came moments before the referee blew the whistle to close the half. The goalkeeper denied Levonte Johnson’s effort from close range inside the six-yard box.
Forward Thor Ulfarsson nearly scored the opening goal of the match in the 56th minute, but his shot from close range was blocked by the Vancouver goalkeeper.
A few minutes later, Ulfarsson had another attempt on goal that hit the cross bar. The ensuing attempt by Gonzalez was saved by Boehmer, who extended his leg to deflect the ball away.
Houston’s final opportunity of the game was a shot from Gonzalez that was blocked by the Vancouver backline.
Dynamo 2 travel to the West Coast next week to take on Earthquakes II at PayPal Park on Saturday, August 19. The match will be available on MLSNEXTPro.com and is set to kick off at 9:00 p.m. CT.
