An in-state rivalry matchup awaits Austin FC II this Thursday night as the Verde & Black prepare for a short trip east to face Houston Dynamo 2. The match will kick off at 7:00 p.m. CT at Shell Energy Stadium and will be available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Austin FC II Outlook
ATXFC II returned to winning ways last Friday night, defeating Real Monarchs 2-0 at Parmer Field at St. David’s Performance Center. Both goals came in the second half, as CJ Fodrey opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 61st minute and Alonso Ramírez added an exclamation mark with an excellent late free kick.
Academy product Anthony De Anda had a solid match at the back, making a pair of goal line clearances throughout the match to help preserve the team’s fourth clean sheet of the season.
Austin has already won once in Houston this season, defeating Dynamo 2 1-0 back in March. Fodrey also scored in that match.
Houston Dynamo 2 Outlook
Houston finds itself three points below Austin FC II in the table, adding extra stakes to Thursday’s encounter. Dynamo 2 has won once in its last seven matches. The team has also earned three draws in that span, but lost the penalty shootout on all three occasions.
Houston has played only five home matches so far this season, the fewest of any team in the MLS NEXT Pro Western Conference. With more home matches in the second half of the season, Houston will look to make up ground on the teams above them. However, of those five, Dynamo 2 have only won once at SaberCats Stadium.
Ousmane Sylla is Houston’s most dangerous attacker, with four goals and three assists so far this season.
