While resting five regulars, the Dynamo breezed to a 2-0 scrimmage win over HBU Saturday morning in a match more lopsided than the score indicates. Trialists Lester Peltier and François Swaby scored for Houston.
WATCH: Highlights from Saturday's scrimmage
Regulars Corey Ashe, Geoff Cameron, Brian Ching, Brad Davis, and Lovel Palmer all sat out the match on a cold, clear morning at Sorrels Field on the HBU campus. The Dynamo started all four Caribbean trialists, and the strikeforce consisted of the two leading scorers in Jamaican soccer, Swaby and Steven Morrissey. Both missed chances in the first six minutes, as Morrissey fired wide with an open shot on the left side of the area, and Swaby was denied by sliding HBU goalkeeper Chris Dodd.
Houston went on top in the 14th minute when the ball fell to Peltier 25 yards from goal, and he calmly picked his spot and curled a shot inside the far post to give Houston the lead.
HBU mustered its first shot in the 25th minute, but freshman forward Kris Tyrpak fired his shot right at Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall. In the 40th minute, Hall came to the edge of the penalty area to deny HBU's Leo Munoz. The Dynamo got two more chances before the half ended, with Morrissey missing wide on an awkward close-range shot in the 43rd minute, and Danny Cruz rifling a shot that Dodd tipped over in stoppage time.
The Dynamo made five changes at the half but left the trialists in the game. Houston quickly made it 2-0, as a solid passing sequence out of midfield culminated with Morrissey crossing from the right corner. Swaby pulled up at the penalty spot, took one touch to settle the ball, then swiveled and fired a half-volley into the lower left corner.
MORE: See photos from Saturday's scrimmage
The Dynamo failed to capitalize on several other opportunities, with Josue Soto firing wide and Will Bruin denied by a diving Dodd. The match finished 2-0, with the Dynamo carrying a 22-3 shot advantage for the game. Houston returns to preseason game action next Saturday, facing an MLS opponent for the first time this year. The Dynamo will travel to Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi for a 2 p.m. friendly against FC Dallas.
Houston Dynamo
vs. HBU
February 05, 2011 -- Sorrels Field, Houston TX
Preseason scrimmage
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Lester Peltier (unassisted) 14
HOU -- François
Swaby (Steven Morrissey, Francisco Navas Cobo) 49
Houston Dynamo -- Tally Hall (Tyler Deric 46), Kofi Sarkodie (Hunter Freeman 46), Bobby Boswell, Andrew Hainault (Eddie Robinson 46), Mike Chabala (Jordan Graye 46), Danny Cruz (Francisco Navas Cobo 46), JeVaughn Watson (Alex Dixon 61), Lester Peltier (Jason Garey 61), Josue Soto, François Swaby (Cam Weaver 61), Steven Morrissey (Will Bruin 61).
HBU -- Chris Dodd, John McDuffee (Daniel Flores 46), Richard Ojeda, Walter Kromholz, Kyle Herbison, Francisco Diaz (Mark Gendi 75), Mark Gendi (Brian McDaniel 46), Tanner Fyfe, Mateo Jimenez (TBA 73), Leo Munoz, Kris Tyrpak.
Misconduct Summary:
none
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
