The Dynamo Academy U-17s continued their preparation for Eurovoetbal 2011 with a 2-0 win over the U-17 squad of Eredivisie club Vitesse, in Arnhem, Holland. Lorenzo Salazar and Alan Arellano scored the goals for Houston.
Although the Dynamo had five shots on net in the first half, they were unable to grab the early lead from Vitesse. Gabriel Moreno nearly put the Dynamo ahead in the 35th minute, when he stepped up to a loose ball 30 yards away from net. Moreno one-timed the shot and caught the goalkeeper off his line, but the ball hit off the crossbar.
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In the second half, Bryan Celis and Miguel Zapata came off the bench for Houston and provided a much-needed spark for the Houston midfield. Less than a minute into the first half, Zapata made a run down the right wing and crossed to Alan Arellano, but Arellano’s shot went just wide of the net.
The Dynamo continued to spray the Vitesse net with shots, eventually breaking through in the 49th minute. Salazar and Arellano combined for a one-two in the penalty box, and Salazar beat a defender before firing it past the Dutch goalkeeper.
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Houston did not let up and doubled its lead in the 63rd minute when right back Christian Gonzalez found Arellano making a run down the right wing. Arellano read the ball well, took a touch and blasted it past the helpless goalkeeper.
Arellano had the opportunity for a brace minutes later, after the Vitesse goalkeeper miskicked a ball outside his penalty box. Arellano received the ball from 40 yards out and attempted to hit the empty net, but his shot attempt dribbled wide of the post.
Vitesse’s best scoring opportunity of the match came in the 76th minute off a cross from the left midfielder. A Vitesse forward rose up to head the ball on net, but Dynamo left back Alex Ochoa got in front of the ball and helped his squad keep a clean sheet.
For the second straight match, goalkeepers Adam Masa and Juan Navarrete split the match in goal. Masa made three saves in the first half, but the Vitesse attacked slowed in the second half, leaving Navarrete with little to do on the afternoon.
The Dynamo return to action tomorrow for a friendly against FC Groningen/Cambuur. This will serve as the squad’s final tune-up before the competition begins on Saturday. The match will also serve as a good indication of where the Dynamo stack up in the tournament, as FC Groningen/Cambuur are in Eurovoetbal 2011 and will face the Dynamo in group play on Sunday, June 12.
Houston Dynamo 2, Vitesse 0
June 07, 2011 -- Arnhem, the Netherlands
Pre-tournament scrimmage
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Lorenzo Salazar (Alan Arellano) 49
HOU -- Alan Arellano (Christian Gonzalez) 63
Houston Dynamo -- Adam Masa (Juan Navarrete 41), Christian Gonzalez, Bradley Bourgeois, Luis Mendoza (Alex Ochoa 41), Leo Ayala, Bryan Salazar (Alan Arellano 41), Christian Manisck (Bryan Celis 41), Christian Diaz (Raymundo Marquez 61), Gabriel Moreno (Miguel Zapata 41), Raffi Gregorian, Lorenzo Salazar (Isaiah Noreiga)
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
