Kansas City, Mo. (Aug. 17, 2025) – Houston Dynamo 2 earned a commanding 3-1 road victory over Sporting Kansas City II this afternoon, as they continue to push for a place in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs.
Dos have six regular season matches remaining in their push for the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, including four home matches and two road matches. Fans can secure free tickets to every Dynamo 2 home match HERE.
Houston opened the scoring in the 12th minute when midfielder Mattheo Dimareli found the lower right corner of the frame with a left-footed shot from the center of the box for his third goal of the season. Midfielder Erik Dueñas, who made his Dynamo 2 debut today, set up the goal with an outside-foot pass to his right after dispossessing a Kansas City defender.
Kansas City leveled the match in the 24th minute when Maouloune Goumballe collected a long ball from Blaine Mabie past the halfway line. Goumballe carried the ball into the box and placed a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner.
Dos took the lead in first half stoppage time when Houston worked the ball up the field with quick passing that found defender Juan Viveros on the left wing. Viveros delivered a cross to the back post through traffic, where midfielder Lionel Gitau tapped it in for Houston’s second goal and his first of the season.
Viveros extended Houston’s lead in the 52nd minute with his second goal of the season, volleying a right-footed strike into the bottom right corner after the ball spilled loose in the box. The opportunity came from a corner delivered by Dimareli from the right side.
Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Pedro Cruz was called into action in the 17th minute when Zane Wantland tested the goalkeeper with a left-footed shot from the left side of the box. The shot stopper ended the match with three saves.
Just before Houston took the lead in the first half, Goumballe drove into the box for a one-on-one with Cruz. The 21-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper came off his line to close down the angle and successfully took the ball from Goumballe’s feet to make a crucial stop.
The last dangerous chance for Kansas City came in the 87th minute when Shane Donovan fired a first-time shot from the center of the box, but Cruz was well-positioned to make the save low in the middle of the goal.
Houston almost managed a fourth goal in second half stoppage time when midfielder Matthew Arana dribbled into the box and fired a shot from a tight right-sided angle, but his attempt hit the post and went in to touch.
Following Sunday’s match, Houston next returns to SaberCats Stadium on Friday, Aug. 22, to host The Town FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT, and fans can claim free tickets to all Dynamo 2 home matches HERE.
