AUSTIN (July 25, 2025) – Houston Dynamo 2 fell 2-0 on the road to Austin FC II at Parmer Field tonight.
Notably, the match saw midfielder Matthew Arana make his professional debut after coming onto the field in the 74th minute. At just 14 years, 10 months, and 28 days old, Arana became the second-youngest player to debut for Dynamo Dos this season.
Austin II opened the scoring in the 35th minute when Diego Abarca found Vlad Dănciuțiu in the box for a right-footed strike towards the bottom left corner. Austin II then doubled their lead in the 41st minute from a corner kick, as Jorge Alastuey delivered a dangerous ball into the box that deflected off defender Juan Viveros and into the back of the net.
Goalkeeper Pedro Cruz, who earned the **2025 Goalie Wars** title during the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge on Tuesday night, was called into action in the opening minutes of the match to deny Jorge Alastuey. Cruz finished the match with five saves.
Houston’s first attacking threat came in the 5th minute, when midfielder Sebastian Rodriguez took his chance from outside the box. A second chance followed in the 12th minute, as midfielder Noah Betancourt fired a shot to the near post, forcing a save from goalkeeper Charlie Farrar.
Cruz was called into action again in the 19th minute, to deny Bryant Farkarlun’s left-footed shot from the center of the box.
Forward Tomás Romero nearly found the back of the net in the 22nd minute to meet a dangerous free kick delivering by forward Joshua Bolma, but his header from the center of the box sailed over the crossbar.
Cruz made back-to-back saves in the 48th minute, first denying Farkarlun’s shot to the left side of the box before punching away an effort from Diego Abarca seconds later.
Dos nearly pulled one back in the 49th minute when Romero fired a shot towards the near post that forced Farrar into a dive.
Another golden opportunity came in the 61st minute when defender Daniel Barrett, who played 45 minutes and wore the captain armband in the MLS NEXT All-Star Game on Monday night, found the end of a through ball, but his right-footed effort was denied.
Cruz delivered another stop in the 67th minute, making a diving save to stop Ervin Torres’s shot from the center of the box.
Houston’s final opportunity came in second half stoppage time with a right-footed shot from inside the box by forward David Garcia, but his attempt was denied by the keeper
Houston next travels to face Minnesota United FC 2 on Saturday, August 2, at National Sports Center Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CT. Dynamo Dos fans can follow the action live via MLSNEXTPro.com.
