The Houston Dynamo secured a 3-0 win over the Dynamo Academy on Thursday afternoon at Methodist Champions Field at Houston Amateur Sports Park. Jermaine Taylor, Cam Weaver and Warren Creavalle each scored for the Dynamo in the club’s first scrimmage of the 2013 preseason.
Head coach Dominic Kinnear’s starting lineup featured nine returning players in the starting lineup, along with two trailists: forward Calum Elliot and defender Jimmy Nealis.
Houston began the scoring in the seventh minute when midfielder Giles Barnes swung in a corner kick and Taylor headed the cross into the net from eight yards for a 1-0 lead.
Barnes had nearly delivered the opening goal three minutes earlier, creating space near the Academy’s six-yard box before driving a low shot that required a strong save from Academy goalkeeper Leopoldo Castillo.
The first team doubled its lead in the 17th minute as midfielder Alex Dixon drove an early cross from the left flank, and Weaver flicked a header over Castillo for a 2-0 lead.
The Academy began to create opportunities five minutes before the break. Midfielder Memo Rodriguez found Carlos Ibarra in space, who fired a shot from 25 yards that was handled by Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric.
Four minutes later the Academy had its best scoring chance of the afternoon. Forward Irvin Ramirez fired a one-touch shot from the left side of the penalty area that struck off the crossbar.
Kinnear made nine lineup changes at the start of the second half, including 2013 first draft round pick Jason Johnson, trialist Mike Chabala and seven returners.
The Academy created an opportunity in the 52nd minute, as Bryan Salazar darted in behind the Houston defense before firing a ball across the six-yard box that was pushed away by Dynamo goalkeeper Erich Marscheider.
Creavalle closed the scoring in the 83rd minute, receiving a lofted pass from midfielder Luiz Camargo and rocketing a volley into the near upper corner for a 3-0 win.
The Dynamo continue preseason on Saturday at 11 a.m. when they host Houston Baptist University at Methodist Champions Field at Houston Amateur Sports Park. The scrimmage is free to the public.
Houston Dynamo vs. Dynamo Academy
January 24, 2012 -- Houston Amateur Sports Park
Preseason Scrimmage
Scoring Summary:
HOU – Jermaine Taylor 1 (Giles Barnes 1) 7’
HOU – Cam Weaver 1 (Alex Dixon 1) 17’
HOU – Warren Creavalle 1 (Luiz Camargo 1) 83’
Houston Dynamo first half – Tyler Deric; Kofi Sarkodie, Bobby Boswell, Jermaine Taylor, Jimmy Nealis; Je-Vaughn Watson, Giles Barnes, Adam Moffat, Alex Dixon; Calum Elliot, Cam Weaver
Houston Dynamo second half – Erich Marscheider; Warren Creavalle, Eric Brunner, Jimmy Nealis, Mike Chabala; Brian Ownby, Luiz Camargo, Ricardo Clark, Alex Dixon; Brian Ching, Jason Johnson
Houston Dynamo Academy – Leopoldo Castillo (Josh Blair 79); Christian Gonzalez, Louis Thomas, Garrett
Welch (Michael Odenigwe 85), Alex Ochoa (Luis Esquivel); Christian Diaz,
Jorge Contreras, Memo Rodriguez (Jorge Andrade 79); Martin Agredo (Bryan
Salazar (47), Carlos Ibarra (Manuel Chavez 85), Irvin Ramirez (Dener Dos
Santos 68)
