Both Houston Dynamo teams rebounded with 3-1 wins over the Virginia Rush on Saturday, the second day of the USSF Development Academy Spring Showcase at the Sarasota Polo Club.
The Dynamo's U-18 team entered the day in 11th position in the standings to be one of 12 wildcards nationwide qualifying for the USSF Development Academy playoffs. With Saturday's win, Houston passed Match Fit Chelsea in the standings. If the U-18s can win their final game of the year on Monday, they would finish with 1.68 points per game and greatly increase their chances of qualifying.
After a disappointing 2-0 loss to a strong New York Red Bulls squad yesterday, the Dynamo's U-18 squad faced a 9 a.m. kickoff on Saturday. Houston fell behind 1-0 against the run of play in the 17th minute but rebounded in the 42nd minute with a quality goal by Ubaldo Lucio (Fort Bend Bush) off of a pass from Abe Matamoros (Strake Jesuit).
The Dynamo took over the game in the second half and made their advantage pay on the scoreboard with goals from Sebastien Ibeagha (Fort Bend Hightower) and Matamoros. Dynamo Director of Youth Development James Clarkson said forward Martin Castillo (Pasadena Sam Rayburn) was the man of the match in challenging the Virginia Rush defense.
Houston's U-16s followed with a 3-1 win of their own. The young squad took a first-half lead but allowed the equalizer shortly before halftime. Like the older group, the Dynamo took over the game in the second half for a 3-1 win. Forward Isaiah Noreiga (Humble Kingwood Park) scored one goal and set up fellow frontrunner Bryan Salazar (Fort Bend Bush) for two to lead the way.
The teams will conclude regular season play on Monday, the final day of the showcase. The U-18s will face a stiff challenge in Arsenal FC from Temecula, Calif., a team currently in second place in its division, and the U-16s will take on the Richmond Strikers.
U-18: Houston Dynamo Academy vs. Virginia Rush
May 29,
2010 -- Sarasota Polo Club, Sarasota, Florida
USSF Development
Academy -- Spring Showcase
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Ubaldo Lucio (Abe Matamoros)
VAR -- Goal
HOU -- Sebastien Ibeagha
HOU -- Abe Matamoros
Dynamo Academy -- Pat Wall, Steven Salinas, C.J. Odenigwe, Sebastien Ibeagha, Benji Saenz (Leo Ayala 50), Irvinn Ramirez, Bryan Celis (Josue Morales 78), Sebastian Karpen (Miguel Zapata 68), Abe Matamoros, Ubaldo Lucio (Eloy Gonzalez Litan 65), Martin Castillo.
All statistics contained
in this boxscore are unofficial
U-16: Houston Dynamo Academy vs. Virginia Rush
May 29,
2010 -- Sarasota Polo Club, Sarasota, Florida
USSF Development Academy -- Spring Showcase
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Isaiah Noreiga
VAR -- Goal
HOU -- Bryan Salazar (Isaiah Noreiga)
HOU -- Bryan Salazar (Isaiah Noreiga)
Dynamo
Academy
-- Juan Navarrete, Orlin Ramirez, Jim Fallon, Siegried Casar, Alfredo Gallegos, Manuel Mendoza, Jordan Davies, Michael Diaz, Gabriel Moreno, Bryan Salazar, Isaiah Noreiga.
Substitutes (41'): Christian Diaz, Carlos Lessa, Christian Manisck, Raymundo Marquez.
All
statistics contained
in this boxscore are unofficial
