The Houston Dynamo Academy stunned the Colorado Rush with a 2-1 win Saturday morning in both teams’ USSF Development Academy playoff opener, breaking the Rush’s 24-game unbeaten streak and seizing control of their four-team playoff group. Only the group winner will advance to the Development Academy Finals Week in Carson, Calif., July 10-17.
Forwards Abé Matamoros (Strake Jesuit) and Martin Castillo (Pasadena Sam Rayburn) scored goals in the Houston win. More details will follow from Greensboro.
>>Dynamo Academy U-18s<<
To see Houston's first goal on Saturday, go to 1:08 of the video below:
The Dynamo, officially seeded 25th among 32 playoff teams, are back in action Sunday afternoon against No. 14 CASL from Raleigh, N.C., which tied No. 18 D.C. United 1-1 in the other Group D game.
Colorado entered the playoffs as the No. 3 overall seed based on its 19-1-8 overall record and 2.32 points per game. The Rush, however, finished second in the Frontier Division due to their seven ties in division play. Still, Colorado posted a 3-1 win over the Dynamo’s Texas Division foe, Dallas Texans Houston, and tied defending champion Indiana United during the regular season. The Rush had not lost in 24 games (16-0-8) since a 2-1 setback on February 10 against the Kansas City Wizards Juniors.
The Dynamo struggled during the second half of their season after midfielder Francisco Navas Cobo signed a professional contract with the first team, but Houston qualified for the playoffs as one of 12 wildcard teams after a strong performance in the Spring Showcase in Sarasota in late May.
Now games against CASL and D.C. United stand between the Dynamo and a trip to Finals Week.
Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rush
June 26, 2010 –- Bryan Park, Greensboro NC
USSF Development Academy Playoffs - Group D
Scoring Summary:
COL -- Abdoulie Jatta 19
HOU -- Abe Matamoros 20
HOU -- Martin Castillo 65
Houston Dynamo -- Pat Wall, Miguel Zapata, C.J. Odenigwe, Sebastien Ibeagha, Benji Saenz (Leo Ayala 29), Irvinn Ramirez (Manuel Chavez 88), Bryan Celis, Steven Salinas, Josue Morales (Christian Camera 61), Abe Matamoros, Martin Castillo (Eloy Gonzalez Litan 74).
Colorado Rush -- Famara Bojang, Zach Davis, Reid Hukari, Jared Roberts (Alex Merrill 79), Ken Tribbett, Matt Kerridge, Garrett Seitz, Cole Chapleski (Alex Frazier 68), Abdoulie Jatta (Benjamin Glass 68), Baboucarr Jammeh, Justin Miller (Nicolas Morabito 46).
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
<strong>Pos.</strong> |
<strong>Group D<br></strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>T</strong> |
<strong>Pts</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
Houston Dynamo<br> |
1<br> |
0<br> |
0<br> |
<strong>3</strong><br> |
+1<br> |
<strong>2</strong> |
CASL<br> |
0<br> |
0<br> |
1 |
<strong>1</strong><br> |
0<br> |
<strong><br></strong> |
D.C. United<br> |
0<br> |
0<br> |
1 |
<strong>1</strong><br> |
0<br> |
<strong>4</strong> |
Colorado Rush<br> |
0 |
1<br> |
0<br> |
<strong>0</strong><br> |
-1 |
