A defensive battle was played at AVEVA Stadium in Houston on Sunday night between MNUFC2 and Houston Dynamo 2, but the home side ultimately earned the three points in a close 1-0 victory.
Sunday’s match between the two Western Conference sides was tight on the score line, but the balance throughout the box score leaned in favor of the home team in Dynamo 2. Houston controlled much of the possession on the night and with that control they took advantage. Dynamo 2 fired off 17 shots (four on target) compared to the Loons nine (three on target). Houston also had the edge in corners taken with eight compared to Minnesota’s five. The first half saw chances flying for both sides, including runs from MNUFC2 midfielders Emmanuel Iwe and Aziel Jackson, but no goals prevailed. That changed for the home team in the second minute of added stoppage time when Jathan Juarez scored from atop the 18-yard box, giving Houston the 1-0 edge at halftime. But MNUFC2 kept up the fight, and in the 72nd minute, attacking midfielder Sagir Arce – who made his first MLS Next Pro start for the Loons – struck a powerful shot on goal which was ultimately saved. The match ended at 1-0 in favor of the Houston Dynamo 2 squad.
With the loss, MNUFC2 remains in the seventh position in the MLS Next Pro Western Conference standings (6-7-3, 24 points).
MNUFC2 returns home to take on Portland Timbers2 on July 31 at the National Sports Center Stadium in Blaine, Minnesota. Kick is set for 5:00 p.m. CT, and the contest will be streamed live at www.mlsnextpro.com.
GOALS
0-1 HOU – Jathan Juarez, Assist by Brooklyn Raines (45’+2’)
DISCIPLINAIRY SUMMARY
Yellow, HOU – Ethan Bartlow (22’)
Yellow, MIN – Molik Jesse Khan (35’)
Yellow, MIN – Nick Mendonca (60’)
Yellow, MIN – Callum Montgomery (75’)
Yellow, HOU – D’Alessandro Herrera (84’)
Yellow, MIN – Sagir Arce (85’)
NOTABLE STATS
4 – Midfielder Aziel Jackson provided four key passes against Houston Dynamo 2, which moves him into the top spot in MLS Next Pro in key passes made with 41 to-date
5 – Loons defender Callum Montgomery led the team in clearances with five on the night
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through July 24)
Goals – Aziel Jackson (6)
Assists – Aziel Jackson (5)
Saves – Fred Emmings (33)
Wins – Fred Emmings (3)
Shutouts – Eric Dick (2)
