The Houston Dynamo Academy U-19 squad continued its preparation for the upcoming Dallas Cup Super Group with a 3-1 win over local amateur team Galveston Pirate SC at Kermit Courville Stadium in Galveston Saturday afternoon. Academy veteran Abé Matamoros (Strake Jesuit) scored two goals in the first half, and Mario Diaz wrapped the game up late for a Dynamo squad that included first team midfielder Francisco Navas Cobo.
The U-19s will face Houston Football Association club ASC New Stars on Wednesday before beginning Dallas Cup play Sunday afternoon against Coritiba of Brazil. Houston's other opponents in Bracket D are Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) and Alajuelense (Costa Rica).
MORE: Dynamo Academy U-18s/U-19s
On Saturday afternoon, Navas Cobo and Matamoros, who has committed to Tulsa, started on the wings, with SMU commit Chance Bergen and Brazilian newcomer Nono up front. The Dynamo had two chances in the 10th minute, as Navas Cobo floated a corner kick to midfielder Miguel Zapata (Katy Mayde Creek), whose header was saved by Galveston's Eloy Aguirre. Navas Cobo's next cross found midfielder Bryan Celis (Katy Mayde Creek), and after his shot was blocked, Matamoros reacted first to fire the ball into the net.
Houston controlled play in the first half and made the score 2-0 just before halftime when Matamoros reached a failed clearance, swiveled, and fired a right-footed shot across his body that skipped in off the far post.
The Dynamo made six changes at halftime, including the removal of Navas Cobo and Bergen, as both were limited to 45 minutes ahead of Monday's Dynamo Reserves match against Kansas City. Against the different lineup, Galveston got back into the game and energized the home crowd of 542. In the 58th minute, Rolando Espinoza played a deft pass into the penalty area for Jorge Vela, and he was taken down by defender Erick Tello (Pasadena South Houston). Espinoza stepped up to the penalty kick and drove it past Adam Masa to make it a 2-1 game.
The final 20 minutes were fast and physical. Galveston's best chance came in the 72nd minute, when Vela whistled a 30-yard free kick over the top. At the other end, Pirate goalkeeper Hunter Kirkwood smoothered a chance from Diaz after good buildup by midfielder Irvinn Ramirez (Fort Bend Marshall).
After a bizarre sequence around the 85th minute that actually saw Galveston attack with 12 players on the field for several minutes, the Dynamo sealed the outcome in the 88th minute. Tello stepped up into the attacking half and played a one-two with forward Diego Velazquez to reach the top of the box. Tello then laid the ball wide right into the path of Tello, who tucked it underneath Kirkwood and just inside the left-hand post.
In other action on Saturday, the Dynamo Academy's U-16 squad beat UH-Victoria 4-1 behind goals from Lorenzo Salazar, Bryan Salazar (2), and Christian Manisck. In high school soccer, Dynamo Academy forward Isaiah Noreiga helped his Kingwood Park team to the Region III-4A championship and a return trip to the state tournament next weekend.
The U-19 and U-16 squads are two of four Dynamo teams competing at the Dallas Cup. The Dynamo South Texas Academy will play in the U-19 age group, with another Houston squad at the U-15 level. Following the Dallas Cup, Dynamo Academy squads will return to league play at the U-18 and U-16 levels on April 30.
Dynamo Academy U-19 vs. Galveston Pirate SC
April 09, 2011 -- Kermit Courville Stadium, Galveston TX
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Abé Matamoros (unassisted) 10
HOU -- Abé Matamoros (unassisted) 45
GAL -- Rolando Espinoza (penalty kick) 58
HOU -- Mario Diaz (Erick Tello, Diego Velazquez) 88
Dynamo Academy U-19 -- Pedro Gutierrez Mora (Adam Masa), J. Christian Gonzalez, Alan Hernandez, Erick Tello, Uche Uzo (Leo Ayala 46), Francisco Navas Cobo (Mario Diaz 46), Miguel Zapata, Bryan Celis, Abé Matamoros (Diego Velazquez 57), Chance Bergen (Josue Morales 46), Nono.
Galveston Pirate SC -- Eloy Aguirre, R.J. McNair, Adam Randecker, Jachin Whittington, Rolando Espinoza, Jaime Garcia, Franklin Ramos, Jorge Vela, Felipe Escobedo, Justin Santibanez, Dustin Botting.
Substitutes: Hunter Kirkwood (GK), Dylan Schauder, Bryan Mann, Carlos Maradiaga.
Misconduct Summary:
GAL -- Adam Randecker (caution; Tactical Foul) 78
Attendance: 542
Weather: Cloudy-and-77-degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
