The MLS NEXT Pro playoffs are here and Houston Dynamo 2 traveled to the Pacific Northwest to take on Tacoma Defiance in the Western Conference semifinal. The boys were looking for a better result, after the first time they were up there to Washington, they came out with a defeat.
A chippy, tough, and contested playoff match was expected and that's how the first half started. Some key players were missing for Houston. Talen Maples, who earlier in the week was named to the MLS NEXT Pro XI, was unavailable. Goalkeeper Xavier Valdez was away with the Dominican Republic youth national team and Juan Castilla was with the Colombian U20s.