The Houston Dynamo Academy opened the MLS NEXT summer season last Saturday and split the series with Sporting Kansas City at Houston Sports Park.
“It is always a great weekend when you get to play Sporting KC and this level of MLS NEXT competition. When both teams have a strong intent to play, you can really see the quality of the players begin to take shape before your eyes,” Dynamo Academy director Paul Holocher said. “There were some very high-level moments in each game and obviously there were also some very youthful mistakes, which are normal and valuable opportunities to continue learning.”
Midfielder Juan Castilla scored for the U-19 squad in their 1-0 victory at Houston Sports Park. The U-19s controlled the momentum throughout the game and their press led to the attacking transition for the lone goal of the game.
The U-17 team walked away with three points in a 10-goal shootout over the weekend. Houston stormed to a 3-0 lead in the first half courtesy of a left-footed effort from Andre Gitau. For Gitau, a true U15 player, this was his third game at the U-17 level and his first goal in this age group. Alex Borsos excelled in the midfield while Joe Farouz had had an assist and a goal.
The U-15 team narrowly fell to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday 1-2. Tyler Mitchell beat a defender to get into the box and find Lalito Moreno for the opening goal of the game, but Kansas City equalized from the penalty spot and scored the game-winning goal off a corner kick.
Sebastian Ballesteros scored for the U-14 side, who also fell 1-2 to Kansas City at Houston Sports Park. The team controlled the majority of the possession, but the visiting side took the three points after capitalizing on a turnover and a set piece in the second half.
The U-13, U14 and U-15 teams return to Houston Sports Park on Saturday to host training matches with Austin FC, while the 17’s and 19’s will play training matches vs two adult sides.
