Houston Dynamo FC earned their fifth victory of the preseason earlier today after defeating OKC Energy 2-0 at Aveva Stadium. The Dynamo improve to 5-0-0 overall this preseason and 2-0-0 in the La Copita preseason tournament.
Dynamo Academy alum Memo Rodriguez gave Houston the lead in the 11th minute with a shot from distance. The midfielder’s right-footed effort beat the OKC goalkeeper low to the near post from 25 yards. It was Rodriguez’ fourth goal of the preseason.
Forward Mateo Bajamich doubled Houston’s lead in the 42nd minute with a long-range effort, his first goal in Orange. The Argentine dribbled down the right flank before letting loose with a right-footed blast from outside the penalty area that beat the Energy goalkeeper at the far post.
The Dynamo earned the first corner kick of the game seconds into the start of the match, but OKC Energy cleared the ball to spark a counterattack. Dynamo goalkeeper Michael Nelson made the first of his five saves on the day and kept the game scoreless in the second minute. The Dynamo shot stopper was called into action again in the eighth minute and made a save at the near post.
Academy player Jathan Juarez, 18, earned his first start for the Dynamo this preseason and he was joined by Homegrown Player Juan Castilla, 16. The pair were joined by defender Ian Hoffmann, 19, as the youngest players to start the game for the Dynamo. Academy alum Danny Rios, who just turned 17, and current Academy player Kieran Sargeant, 17, came on as a second-half substitute to continue the youth movement on the day.
Houston had two close calls in the second half beginning with a cross from forward Darwin Quintero that bounced away from forward Christian Ramirez at the far post. Later, winger Tyler Pasher dribbled through the Energy backline and found forward Ariel Lassister, but the defense recovered to clear the ball at the edge of the six-yard box.
The Dynamo host FC Dallas at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 10 in the La Copita finale at BBVA Stadium. That will mark the end of their preseason slate and the team will turn its attention to its 2021 season opener on Friday, April 16 when they host the San Jose Earthquakes at BBVA Stadium.
