The Houston Dynamo kicked off Eurovoetbal 2011 Saturday night with a scoreless draw against Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven at Achilles Stadium in Assen, Holland. Dynamo midfielder Alan Arellano had a chance to win the game in the final seconds but could not put his right-footed shot on target.
Although the Dynamo played three friendlies in the past week, the squad looked flat in the first few minutes against the Dutch side. PSV had their first opportunity of the match in the fifth minute, but Elvio van Overbeek’s header to the back post was saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Juan Navarrete.
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After 10 minutes, the Dynamo began to settle down and find some opportunities behind the PSV backline. In the 11th minute, Arellano fired a shot from 25 yards out but saw it deflected before it rolled to PSV goalkeeper Jesse Bertrams. Bertrams proceeded to roll the ball to his outside back, who then passed the ball directly to Dynamo forward Lorenzo Salazar at the top of the penalty box. Salazar took a dribble and fired a shot with his left foot, but Bertrams made a diving save to keep the game scoreless.
Houston had another opportunity in the 20th minute when Christian Diaz’s free kick found Salazar in the PSV penalty box. Salazar flicked a header toward the net, but Miguel Zapata could not get a clean touch and knocked the ball over the net.
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With the crowd behind them, PSV began to press in the second half, looking for the goal to put Houston away. That goal nearly came in the 38th minute when the PSV left midfielder sent a rocket toward the Dynamo goal. Navarrete saved the initial strike but could not get it under control, leaving the ball at the six-yard box for a rebound. A PSV forward got to the ball first and attempted to back-heel the ball into the goal, but Dynamo left back Alex Ochoa put his foot in front of the attempt, keeping the Dynamo in the game.
Although PSV outshot the Dynamo 11-6 during the 40-minute game, it was the last Dynamo attempt that the crowd will remember. With only seconds left, Dynamo center back Leo Ayala made a desperation clear toward midfield. Lorenzo Salazar proceeded to steal the ball from a PSV defender and found a streaking Isaiah Noreiga down the left wing. Noreiga squared the ball to Arellano who, after dribbling past Bertrams, pushed his shot attempt high and wide of the net.
Houston will have little time to think about Saturday night’s result, with three games on the schedule for Sunday. The Dynamo kick off Sunday morning at 10 a.m. against Dutch side Feyenoord. At 12 noon, Houston will then have the opportunity to avenge Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to the hosts, when they take on FC Groningen. Houston’s last match of the day kicks off at 3 p.m. against Czech club Slavia Prague.
Houston Dynamo 0, PSV Eindhoven 0
June 11, 2011 -- Assen, the Netherlands
Eurovoetbal 2011
Scoring Summary:
Houston Dynamo -- Juan Navarrete, Christian Gonzalez, Bradley Bourgeois, Leo Ayala, Alex Ochoa, Christian Diaz (Isaiah Noreiga 21), Miguel Zapata, Bryan Celis (Christian Manisck 31), Raymundo Marquez, Alan Arellano, Lorenzo Salazar.
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
Related links
Complete coverage of the Academy's trip to Holland
Register for the Dynamo's Residential Elite camp
