HOUSTON (July 17, 2025) – Houston Dynamo 2 fell 4-2 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 at SaberCats Stadium tonight. Despite the loss, Dynamo Dos still holds the upper hand in the all-time series against Vancouver with a 3-2-2 (WLD) record.
Tonight’s match saw defender Isaac Mwakutuya record his first professional assist and defender Juan Viveros notch his first assist in MLS NEXT Pro, while first-team midfielder Erik Dueñas made his first appearance for Dynamo Dos.
Midfielder Mattheo Dimareli gave Dynamo 2 the lead in the 31st minute, dribbling from the edge of the attacking third and weaving past four Vancouver defenders before slotting a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner. The goal marked his second of the season and was assisted by Mwakutuya.
Whitecaps 2 leveled the match in the 35th minute when Jackson Castro converted from the penalty spot after forward Stephen Annor was deemed to have fouled a Vancouver midfielder inside the box.
Just before the half, Vancouver took the lead on a counterattack where Johnny Selemani lofted a cross in from well outside the box to Rayan Elloumi, who controlled it with his chest and finished with a right-footed chip to the left side of the goal.
Vancouver scored their third goal in second half stoppage time when Cyprian Kachwele played a through ball to Elloumi just outside the box, where he finished with a strike towards the right side of the net.
In the eighth minute of added time, Viveros won possession with a header after a pass from defender Gavin Wolff. He set up forward David Garcia, who fired a right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the top-right corner for his first goal of the year.
Vancouver responded almost immediately, scoring their fourth and final goal just seconds later. Kachwele found the top-left corner with a shot from the edge of the box, assisted by Elloumi.
Houston’s first dangerous chance came in the 14th minute when Dimareli fired a left-footed outside the foot shot from distance, forcing a save from goalkeeper Isaac Francoeur in the center of the box.
Dueñas sent in a cross from the left side of the box in the 23rd minute that found Annor for a header. The ball deflected loose in the box, and Dimareli followed up with a shot, but Francoeur dove to his right to make the save.
A minute later, goalkeeper Pedro Cruz was called into action when Nelson Pierre put up a shot from the right side of the box, but Cruz was perfectly placed next to the right post to make the save. Notably, the shot stopper will compete in the third edition of Goalie Wars at the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge next week.
Midfielder Lionel Gitau slipped a pass to Annor in the 48th minute, setting up a right-footed strike towards the right side of the goal. However, Francoeur was positioned well to make the save in the center of the box.
Houston came close again in the 64th minute after a deflection fell for Viveros. He fired a right-footed shot on target, but Francoeur once again made a save in the middle of the goal.
Dynamo 2 next travel to the state capital to face Austin FC II on Friday, July 25, for the third and final meeting between the two sides this regular season. Fans can stream the match via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
