With three goals from Beto Avila, Houston Dynamo 2 won its third straight match in MLS Next PRO. The 3-0 victory over Sporting KC II also marked the first away win for the club.
Led by goalkeeper Xavier Valdez, the defense recorded its third straight clean sheet. Houston sit first in the Western Conference with a 3-0-0 record and are the only team in the league off to a perfect 9-point start.
Dynamo 2 will play their first match at PNC Stadium on Saturday as part of a double header with the first team. The team will go on the road for their following two matches.
Here's what happened
- Beto Avila got on the end of a pass from Mujeeb Murana to get his first goal with Dynamo 2 and put the team up 1-0 in the 8th minute.
- Ian Hoffman and Jathan Juarez combined for a dangerous play in the 35th minute but the ball was cleared away.
- SKC II earned a penalty kick in the 37th minute after defender Talen Maples brought down Rauf Salifu. Collin Fernandez lined up against Dynamo goalkeeper Xavier Valdez, who made a save to keep Houston’s lead intact heading into halftime. It was the second penalty kick saved by Valdez this season.
- Papa N’Doye brought down a long pass from Maples before flicking the ball back to Avila. Avila took a strike from outside the 18-yard box in the 46th minute to double the Houston lead.
- Avila drew a penalty kick just 10 minutes into the second half. He knocked home the ball in the 55th minute to record the first hat trick in Dynamo 2 history.
What it means
Best start in the league — things can't get any better than that. In relation to their peers, Dynamo 2 are doing everything right and they have yet to lose or be scored on.
What has led to this early success? The team has a group of players that are meshing well, some of whom have been together for more than a year as part of the pilot league in 2021. They've added some players in the offseason, like former Austin Bold Forward Beto Avila, to bolster the roster. It's a group of young players eager to get minutes, enjoying the project and motivated to perform — with a realistic chance to move up to the first team eventually.
Goalkeeper Xavier Valdez has been training with the first team goalkeeping corps and that type of experience has shown in these games. I would argue that he's ahead of the curve on other MLS Next PRO goalkeepers on that front. Players like N'Doye, Palomino, Castilla and Hoffmann have also had a taste of the first team this season, especially in preseason.
Ultimately, how many of these players will move up? That remains to be seen but more performances like these will certainly earn them a call up or two this season.
What they said
Head Coach Kenny Bundy:
- "Going into our first away trip, we really focused on just performing, competing and making sure that the boys were extremely organized in what we needed to accomplish here."
- "I thought, specifically, the team defensively executed the game plan. But what we've really been focused on is when we can keep the game in zero, how do we capitalize on our chances, and I think tonight we saw a different side of the group."
- "I'm really happy with Beto (Avila). He's been grinding through preseason. He's played in the first three games now. He's a product of the way that we built the system this week. I think he took his three goals extremely well. Anytime you score a hat trick, that's a massive moment for a player."
Forward Beto Avila:
- "The first hat trick of my professional career. So, it's a really good feeling and I couldn't have done it without the boys."
- "Obviously, it boosts my confidence to take more shots inside and outside the box. It's a game changer, to be honest."
- "I'm really excited [about the team's first match at PNC Stadium coming up next]. We're going to play in front of our families, our friends, Dynamo fans. So, it's going to be good and I'm excited."
After playing their matches so far at AVEVA Stadium, Dynamo 2 will play at PNC Stadium for the first time on Saturday. The match will be part of a doubleheader with their match against Portland Timbers 2 following an MLS encounter between the two clubs' first teams.