Match Recap | MNUFC2-1, HOUSTON DYNAMO 2-3

On Sunday night at the National Sports Center Stadium, MNUFC2 faced Houston Dynamo 2, a match that ended in a 3-1 loss for the home team. The Twos’ only goal came from midfielder Aidan Martinez, scoring his first professional goal.

In the ninth minute, MNUFC2 got three consecutive free kick shots. Molik Jesse Khan launched a superb ball into the box where defender Morris Duggan and forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith each had consecutive shots on target which were saved by Houston Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Xavier Valdez before the final shot was exceeds the goal.

Houston Dynamo 2 opened the scoring in the 10th minute after Mattheo Dimareli took space on the right side of the pitch and crossed towards the top of the penalty area. He found teammate Ousmane Sylla who shot with his right foot to find the back of the net.

Dynamo 2 almost doubled their lead after 15 minutes when striker Annor Gyamfi put the ball in the back of the net but was immediately ruled offside.

Adebayo-Smith won another free-kick opportunity just outside the box a minute later. He shot himself but did not challenge the opposing goalkeeper, after shooting off target.

Again, the Twos had another narrow scoring opportunity in the 37th minute. Adebayo-Smith, on the counter-attack, gained possession in the middle third after Darius Randell served a long ball upfield. Adebayo-Smith in touch created a one-on-one with Valdez where he fired a shot from the left side of the penalty area that hit the opposite goal post.

The Twos, trailing by a goal at half-time, created plenty of scoring chances but were unable to convert them after outscoring Houston Dynamo 2 11 shots to seven in the first half. At the other end of the pitch, the MNUFC2 defence held a solid line against the Dynamo 2 attackers, with two goals being ruled offside, keeping the score at 1-0 in the first half.

Dynamo 2 doubled their lead over the Twos in the 51st minute of the match. Midfielder Sebatian Rodriguez blocked a pass from Finn McRobb on the other side of the pitch and passed it to midfielder Diego Gonzalez. He then centered the ball into the box where Annor Gyamfi raced towards goal and headed the ball past goalkeeper Adam Heiden.

Heiden made a big save after Houston Dynamo 2 captain Gonzalez fired an open shot from the left corner of the 18-yard line that Heiden dove off his line to save.

After numerous close scoring chances, the Twos finally scored their first goal of the match in the 39th minute. After winning a free kick from about 40 yards out, Khan centered the ball towards the edge of the penalty area. Defender Britton Fischer headed the ball, placing it in front of the goal where it landed at the feet of midfielder Aiden Martinez after bouncing in front of the goal and finished the game by scoring his first professional goal.

Minutes after the Twos scored their first goal, they almost leveled the score after Khan fired a long-range shot that hit the left goal post and came back into play. Patrick Weah found the other side from the ricochet and took a shot from the left flank which was deflected towards Rory O’Driscoll for a one-touch shot inside the penalty area which was saved by Valdez.

The Texas team found its third goal in the 83rd minute after a one-two sequence between Sebastian Rodriguez and Isaiah Reid on the right flank allowed Reid to shoot from close range towards the goal.

GOALS
0-1 HOU2 – Ousmane Sylla, assisted by Mattheo Dimareli (10′)
0-2 HOU2 – Stephan Annor Gyamfi, assisted by Diego Gonzales (51′)
1-2 MNUFC2 – Aidan Martinez, assisted by Britton Fischer (68′)
1-3 HOU2 – Isaiah Reid, assisted by Sebastian Rodriguez (83′)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
Attention, HOU2 – Tate Lampman (8′)
Attention, MNUFC2 – Morris Duggan (45′)
Attention, MNUFC2 – Kage Romanshyn (46′)
Attention, MNUFC2 – Patrick Weah (52′)
Attention, HOU2 – Xavier Valdez (53′)
Attention, HOU2 – Josue Souza Dos Santos (67′)
Attention, MNUFC2 – William Schmidt (80′)

NOTABLE STATISTICS
1- U-19 Academy goalkeeper Adam Heiden made his first MLS NEXT Pro start against Houston Dynamo 2 on June 30 at National Sports Stadium.
1- MNUFC Academy U17 midfielder Aidan Martinez scored his first professional goal at home against Houston Dynamo 2 on June 30.

TEAM LEADERS (updated through June 26)
Goals – Patrick Weah (8)
Passes – Three tied players (2)
Stops – Alec Smir (19)
Wins – Alec Smir (2)
Laundries – Clint Irwin (1)