HOUSTON (March 21, 2026) – Houston Dynamo 2 earned their fourth consecutive shutout victory after defeating North Texas SC 2-0 at SaberCats Stadium behind midfielder Diego Gonazlez, who scored in his first start of the season, and midfielder Gilberto Rivera, who netted his first professional goal.
Dynamo 2 currently sits at the top of the Western Conference with 12 points and a 4-0-0 (WLD) record, while still being the only team in MLS NEXT Pro who have not conceded a goal in 2026.
The match saw forward Jahmani “JJ” Bell and Noah Betancourt make their first starts of the 2026 season. Defender Eiji Hata, who signed with Dynamo 2 last week, made his professional debut after coming on to the pitch in the 74th minute. Additionally, first team forward Nick Markanich made his second appearance for Dos, while first team defender Reese Miller made his first of the season.
Dynamo 2 took the lead in the 48th minute when Gonzalez found the back of the net with a long-range shot that slipped between the legs of Eryk Dymora following a pass from forward Arthur Sousa. The play marked Sousa’s second assist of the season.
Rivera doubled Dos' lead in the 53rd minute after taking it on his own, dribbling into the box and cutting onto his left foot before firing a shot towards the near post for his first professional goal.
Markanich recorded Houston’s first shot on target early in the match, hitting a left-footed volley from the center of the box that found the hands of the visiting goalkeeper.
Brazilian goalkeeper Pedro Cruz contributed three saves to today’s clean sheet, with his first coming in the fourth minute, where he quickly got low to deny a shot from Samuel Sedeh at the near post.
Dynamo 2 had their second shot on target in the 34th minute when Markanich found attacker MattheoDimareli inside the box for a left-footed strike towards the near post.
Gonzalez tried his chances from deep in the 41st minute with a long-range effort that missed the near post by inches.
Rivera nearly put himself on the board again in the 82nd minute, firing a right-footed shot from the penalty spot that forced a diving saving from Dymora. The penalty was awarded after Dymora was deemed to have fouled Markanich inside the box.
After two bye weeks, Houston kicks off a 10-game road trip, the longest of the season and in team history, by traveling first to face Austin FC II on Sunday, April 12, at Parmer Field.
