HOUSTON (Aug. 30, 2025) – Houston Dynamo 2 played St. Louis CITY2 to a 2-2 draw at SaberCats Stadium earlier this evening and claimed the two points in the penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Pedro Cruz recorded two key stops, while midfielder Noah Betancourt scored the sixth and final penalty kick to secure Houston’s fourth shootout victory of the season.
Notably, the match also marked the return of first-team player Nelson Quiñónes, who played 15 minutes after coming on in the second half–his first action since Dec. 2, 2023.
Dos now have four regular season matches remaining in their push for the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, including two at home and two on the road.
Houston opened the scoring in the 25th minute off a set piece, as forward Joshua Bolma delivered a well-placed corner and found forward Tomás Romero for a header towards the near post. The goal marked Romero’s second of the season.
St. Louis leveled the match in the 29th minute when an initial header from Brendan McSorley was heading wide before Gabriel Mikina slid to tap the ball in at the far-left post.
CITY2 took the lead in the 53rd minute off a counterattack, as Jaden Glover found the back of the net off a rebound following a diving stop by Cruz on a previous shot.
Houston scored the equalizer in the 70th minute when Cruz’s goal kick found forward Stephen Annor past midfield, where he flicked a header towards the box, finding a running Bolma. The midfielder took a touch and drove into the area before slotting a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner for his third goal of the season.
Dos’ first dangerous chance came in the 17th minute when defender Isaac Mwakutuya carried the ball down the left flank and found midfielder Lionel Gitau just outside the box. Gitau laid it off to midfielder Erik Dueñas at the heart of the box, who fired a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner. Colin Welsh dove to his left to deny the effort.
Cruz was first called into action in the 37th minute when Matteo Kidd charged to the top of the box and fired a low shot to the right side of the goal. Cruz dove to his right, making a crucial save to keep the game level. The Brazilian shot stopper ended the match with three saves.
In the 49th minute, Mwakutuya delivered a cross from well outside the box to Romero, who directed a header toward the center of the goal and found the hands of Welsh.
A minute later, Dueñas intercepted a pass on the right flank and drove it into the box before sending a perfectly curved ball to Gitau at the far post, where he forced Welsh to make a diving save with a header towards the right side of the goal.
Houston’s final opportunity came in second half stoppage time when Quiñónes fired a right-footed from outside the box but missed the far post by inches.
Dynamo 2 next travels to face Colorado Rapids 2 on Sept. 14, for the third and final meeting between the two sides this season. Fans can stream the match via MLSNEXTPro.com.
