The Houston Dynamo used three second half goals to earn a 3-1 comeback win over the San Jose Earthquakes in a preseason friendly at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday afternoon.
Former Dynamo forward Chris Wondolowski gave the Quakes a first half lead in the 21st minute. Jordan Stewart led the break for San Jose after a Dynamo corner kick and played Shea Salinas in on goal, but Tyler Deric saved the midfielder’s initial shot. The rebound spilled to the middle of the penalty area, however, and Wondolowski was able to beat the Dynamo defenders to the ball and hit it first time into the open net.
Both teams made wholesale changes for the second half. Brad Davis made his preseason debut for the Dynamo after spending January with the U.S. men’s national team and made the most of his 45 minutes on the field, playing a part in the equalizing goal in the preseason win.
The Dynamo tied the match thanks to terrific efforts on both ends of the field. Mike Fucito found himself with space in the Dynamo’s box and prepared to shoot before being dispossessed by a last-ditch slide tackle from behind by Servando Carrasco. Davis collected a pass near midfield and pushed the attack forward to Omar Cummings on the right flank. Cummings then drifted inside and took a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area. The ball took a deflection off the leg of an Earthquakes defender and snuck inside the near post for the Jamaican’s first goal of the preseason.
Houston took the lead less than 10 minutes later thanks to some great link-up play on the attacking end. From the left side, Cummings found 2014 SuperDraft pick Mark Sherrod standing at the top of the box. Sherrod played a one-touch pass into the path of onrushing midfielder Sito Seoane, and the trialist placed his shot past Bryan Meredith from close range. The goal was Seoane’s second of the preseason after scoring on a free kick against the Dynamo Academy.
Guest player Euan Holden created the third goal on a long-range pass from 45 yards out to the right side of the penalty area. Tony Cascio took one touch to control the pass off the turf and then blasted a shot off the bounce for his second goal this spring. The Tucson crowd responded with a hearty cheer for the Phoenix native on his return to his home state.
The Dynamo finish their three-game Tucson trip on Monday with a closed-door scrimmage against FC Tucson at 11 a.m. CT at Kino Sports Complex.
Houston Dynamo vs. San Jose Earthquakes
February 8, 2014 – Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Ariz.
Preseason Scrimmage
Scoring Summary:
SJ: Chris Wondolowski (unassisted) 22
HOU: Omar Cummings (Brad Davis) 66
HOU: Sito Seoane (Mark Sherrod, Omar Cummings) 74
HOU: Tony Cascio (Euan Holden) 84
Houston Dynamo – Tyler Deric; Mike Chabala (Brian Ownby 54), David Horst, Eric Brunner (AJ Cochran 45), Corey Ashe (Euan Holden^ 45); Boniek Garcia (Tony Cascio 45), Ricardo Clark (Servando Carrasco 45), Alexander López (Sito Seoane* 45), Jason Johnson (Brad Davis 45); Giles Barnes (Omar Cummings 45), Will Bruin (Mark Sherrod 45)
San Jose Earthquakes – David Bingham (Bryan Meredith 61), Andreas Gorlitz* (Jon Otsemobor* 46), Victor Bernardez (Joe Sofia 46), Clarence Goodson (Ty Harden 46), Jordan Stewart (Shaun Francis 46), Atiba Harris (Cordell Cato 46), JJ Koval (Walter Martinez 46), Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi (Juan Baena* 46), Shea Salinas (A.J. Corrado 46), Chris Wondolowski (Mike Fucito 46), Steven Lenhart (Adam Jahn 46)
*Trialist
^Guest player
Misconduct summary:
HOU: Sito Seoane (caution) 82
