The Houston Dynamo Academy, presented by Statoil, swept Andromeda FC last weekend at Houston Amateur Sports Park. The U-16 and U-18 squads won their matches on Saturday, with the U-13, U-14, and U-15 Pre-Academy squads completing the 5-0 weekend on Sunday.
The U-18s kicked things off on Saturday with a strong performance against Andromeda. Striker Bryan Salazar (pictured, above) opened his 2012 scoring account in the 16th minute off a pass from Michael Cusack. The Academy midfielder beat an Andromeda defender along the endline and squared a ball to Salazar at the six-yard box. The striker made no mistake and finished the ball in the empty net to give Houston the early advantage.
The Dynamo doubled their lead minutes later off a long ball from left back Alex Ochoa, who found Martin Agredo running in behind the defense. Agredo, took one touch and calmly placed the ball past a sprawling Garrett Closs.
Andromeda managed to pull one back only two minutes later off a set piece. Nathaniel Coons' corner kick hit off Dynamo winger Irvin Ramirez - who was standing ten yards from the kick - and redirected past a helpless Josh Blair. The goal gave the visitors some life as they pushed forward in the second half in search of the equalizer.
The Dynamo took advantage of the Andromeda attack and against the run of play found what turned out to be the game winner. Second-half sub Carlos Ibarra, who tallied twice for the Dynamo last week, picked up a pass 30 yards from goal, beat a defender into the box and slotted the ball past Closs. Although Andromeda scored another one seconds before stoppage time, it was not enough as the Dynamo U-18s improved to 1-0-1 on the season.
In the second match of the day, the U-16s got off to a sluggish start against the visitors. Juan Rojas put Andromeda ahead in the 20th minute, before Jose Duarte leveled the match for Houston minutes before halftime. Duarte took advantage of an Andromeda defensive miscue and found himself one-one-one with goalkeeper Tanner Starrett.
Christian Lucatero, who recently returned from a training stint with the U.S. U-15s - won the game for the Dynamo with a well-placed free kick in the 51st minute. After Elo Ozumba earned a free kick at the top of the penalty box, Lucatero hammered a low show past Starrett for the game-winner. The win improves the Dynamo U-16s to 1-0-1 and keeps them in the hunt in the re-designed Frontier Division, which now features teams from Texas, Colorado and Sporting Kansas City.
On Sunday, the Dynamo U-13, U-14 and U-15 squads swept Andromeda by a combined scoreline of 16-2.
All five teams will be off this weekend and will resume league play on Saturday, October 6 (U-16 and U-18) and Sunday October 7 (U-13, U-14 and U-15) against FC Dallas.
Visit HoustonDynamo.com/Academy to see the complete schedule for all Dynamo Academy and Pre-Academy teams.
U-18: Houston Dynamo (1-0-1) vs. Andromeda (0-2-1)
September 22, 2012 -- Houston Amateur Sports Park
USSF Development Academy League -- Texas Division
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Bryan Salazar (1) 16
HOU -- Martin Agredo (1) 24
AND -- Nathaniel Coons 26
HOU -- Carlos Ibarra (3) 88
AND -- Thomas Parides 90
Houston Dynamo Academy -- Josh Blair; Luis Esquivel (Trey Richardson 55), Michael Odenigwe, Louis Thomas, Alex Ochoa; Michael Cusack (Christian Diaz 61), Jorge Andrade (Garrett Welch 67), Jose Rodriguez; Martin Agredo (Alan Arellano 53), Bryan Salazar (Carlos Ibarra 53), Irvin Ramirez (Manuel Chavez 78).
U-16:
Houston Dynamo (1-0-1) vs. Andromeda (0-3-0)
September 22, 2012 -- Houston Amateur Sports Park
USSF Development Academy League -- Texas Division
Scoring Summary:
AND -- Juan Rojas 20
HOU -- Jose Duarte 40
HOU -- Christian Lucatero 51
Houston Dynamo Academy -- Andy Rios; David Brown (Gabriel Camera 70), Matthew Dorsey, Sterling Noreiga (Albion Neziri 80), Juan Martinez; Jose Duarte (Julius Montano 56), Christian Lucatero, Lucio Martinez (Daniel Rutter 70); Giovanni Pacheco (Josue Palomino 59), Elo Ozumba (Lisandro Sanchez Cane 61), Sergio Quintanilla.
U-15: Houston Dynamo (2-0-0) vs. Andromeda (0-1-2)
September 22, 2012 -- Houston Amateur Sports Park
Texas Pre-Academy League
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Andrew Giraldo 29
HOU -- Andrew Canales 51
HOU -- Roberto Marquez 65
AND -- goal
U-14: Houston Dynamo (1-1-0) vs. Andromeda (0-3-0)
September 22, 2012 -- Houston Amateur Sports Park
Texas Pre-Academy League
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Hector Ramirez 5
HOU -- Alejandro Dominguez 24
HOU -- Hector Ramirez 26
HOU -- Giandemir Jaen 58
HOU -- Mathew Alzate 67
HOU -- Christian Molina 70
AND -- goal
U-13: Houston Dynamo (1-0-0) vs. Andromeda (0-3-0)
September 22, 2012 -- Houston Amateur Sports Park
Texas Pre-Academy League
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Jommar Reyes 6
HOU -- Marco Ortega 34
HOU -- Marco Ortega 39
HOU -- David Browne 41
HOU -- Hector Sandoval 53
HOU -- David Villegas 74
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
