TUCSON, Ariz. – The Dynamo were defeated by the Vancouver Whitecaps, 2-1, in a preseason scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at Kino Sports Complex. Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell delivered a first half lead for Houston before Darren Mattocks and Corey Hertzog answered with goals for Vancouver. The Dynamo will return to Houston on Sunday to continue preseason.
Houston looked for the opening goal in the 18th minute, as forward Cam Weaver collected a turnover in Vancouver territory and played a short pass to Franck Songo’o, who fired wide of goal from 15 yards.
Moments after Vancouver couldn’t convert a pair of chances for Mattocks and Erik Hurtado, the Dynamo claimed the lead in the 30th minute. Giles Barnes took a free kick 30 yards from goal, on the left side of the field, and bent it toward the penalty spot, where Boswell flicked a header just inside the far post for a 1-0 advantage.
The Whitecaps didn’t take long to answer. Just three minutes later, Mattocks completed a nice movement for Vancouver, slamming home from eight yards after Erik Hurtado found space and played the ball to Camilo Sanvezzo, who squared it for Mattocks.
Two minutes before halftime, midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson use a stepover to create space in the box and fired from 12 yards, but it was saved by Vancouver goalkeeper Brad Knighton.
Vancouver captured the game-winning goal in the 64th minute. Hertzog intercepted a Dynamo back pass, eluded Dynamo goalkeeper Erich Marscheider, and tapped into an empty net for a 2-1 Whitecaps lead.
The Dynamo pressed for the equalizer, and produced a nice buildup in the 75th minute, which led to a shot from the top of the box from Warren Creavalle that was saved by Whitecaps goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
Houston’s last chance arrived in the 84th minute, as Alex Dixon swung in a dangerous free kick from the right flank, but Vancouver was able to head the cross away for a corner kick.
The Dynamo return to Houston on Sunday and will resume preseason training on Monday morning at Houston Amateur Sports Park. The Dynamo’s next scrimmage is Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT, a road game at Houston Baptist University’s Sorrels Field.
Houston Dynamo vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
February 2, 2013 – Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz.
Preseason Scrimmage
Scoring Summary:

HOU – Bobby Boswell 1 (Giles Barnes 2) 30
VAN – Darren Mattocks (Camilo Sanvezzo, Erik Hurtado) 33
VAN - Corey Hertzog (unassisted) 64
Houston Dynamo: Tally Hall (Erich Marscheider 61); Kofi Sarkodie (Warren Creavalle 46), Bobby Boswell (Eric Brunner 46), Jermaine Taylor (Anthony Arena* 46), Jimmy Nealis* (Mike Chabala* 46); Giles Barnes (Alex Dixon 46), Adam Moffat (Luiz Camargo 46), Je-Vaughn Watson (Jason Johnson 46); Franck Songo'o* (Brian Ownby 61), Cam Weaver (Brian Ching 46), Calum Elliot* (Nic Ryan* 61; Yannick Smith* 81)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Brad Knighton (Joe Cannon 45); Matt Watson (Greg Klazura 45), Andy O'Brien (Carlyle Mitchell 45), Jay DeMerit (Brad Rusin 45), Young-Pyo Lee (Jordan Harvey 45); Erik Hurtado (Jaime Peters* 45), Jun Marques Davidson (Gershon Koffie 45), Alain Rochat (Russell Teibert 45), Kekuta Manneh (Paulo Jr. 45; Evan James* 72); Camilo Sanvezzo (Daigo Kobayashi 45), Darren Mattocks (Caleb Clarke 39; Corey Hertzog 45)
*Trialist
Discipline summary:
None.
