The Houston Dynamo closed out the first stage of their preseason training with a 65-minute intra-squad scrimmage between first-team players this morning at Houston Sports Park, followed by a 70-minute scrimmage between Dynamo reserves and Houston Baptist University.
Next up, the Dynamo will head West on Monday to participate in the Desert Diamond Cup along with several other Major League Soccer clubs over the next two weeks.
The first portion of today’s session, an intra-squad scrimmage comprised of Dynamo first-team players, finished with a score of 1-1. The teams played a 45-minute half, and after a brief intermission, then played a second “half” which lasted 20 minutes.
Despite multiple chances for both sides in the first half, the ball did not find the back of the net. Playing in windy conditions, the teams switched ends after 35 minutes of the first session in order to give each side roughly equal time with the wind at their backs.
In the 51st minute, the deadlock was broken when “Team Gray” defender George Malki recovered a ball near midfield and delivered a pass to forward Alberth Elis, who dribbled down the right flank and into the box. Elis found forward Vicente Sánchez, who sent a cross from the end line to the back post, where forward Erick Torres headed the ball into the back of the net. “Team Yellow” defender Adolfo Machado unsuccessfully attempted to clear the floated ball, and Torres threw his body into the net to ensure that the ball crossed the line.
Defender A.J. DeLaGarza tied the game for “Team Yellow” in the 60th minute after receiving a cross from forward Romell Quioto. After being played in behind the defense by a nifty through-ball from midfielder Boniek García, Quioto played the ball in, but his cross sailed over a group of players fighting for position in the six-yard box. DeLaGarza was well positioned to collect the cross, and after bring it under control he fired a low right-footed shot past goalkeeper Joe Willis and into the far corner of the net.
Sánchez nearly produced a winner for “Team Gray” in the final minute, but his free kick from 30 yards out curled just wide of the left post. Moments later, the final whistle blew, ending the scrimmage in a draw.
In the second game, the Dynamo defeated HBU, 5-0. Goals were scored by forward T.J. Casner, midfielder Emilio Garcia, forward Ruben Luna and defender Taylor Hunter, to go along with an own goal by HBU.
On Wednesday, the Dynamo will play their first game in the Desert Diamond Cup vs. the New England Revolution at 6:00 p.m. CST in Tucson, Arizona. The game will be streamed live on HoustonDynamo.com/live.
Houston Dynamo Gray vs. Houston Dynamo Yellow
Preseason Intra-Squad Scrimmage (65 minutes – 45-minute first half, 20-minute second half)
February, 11 2017 – Houston, Texas
(All stats are unofficial)
Scoring Summary:
HOU Gray: Erick Torres 4 (Vicente Sánchez 2) 51
HOU Yellow: AJ DeLaGarza 1 (Romell Quioto 3) 60
Houston Dynamo Gray: Joe Willis; George Malki, Jalil Anibaba, Leonardo, Dylan Remick; Joseph Holland, Eric Alexander, Alex Lima; Alberth Elis, Erick Torres, Vicente Sánchez
TOTAL SHOTS: 6 (Erick Torres, Vicente Sánchez 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (Vicente Sánchez 2); FOULS: 4 (Erick Torres 2); OFFSIDES: 1 (Vicente Sánchez 1); CORNER KICKS: 5 (Vicente Sánchez 5); SAVES: 2
Houston Dynamo Yellow: Tyler Deric; A.J. DeLaGarza, Adolfo Machado, Agus, Kevin Garcia; Ricardo Clark, Juan David Cabezas, Boniek García; Andrew Wenger, Mauro Manotas, Romell Quioto
TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Romell Quioto, Boniek García 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (AJ DeLaGarza, Boniek García, Romell Quioto); FOULS: 12 (Boniek García, Agus 3); OFFSIDES: 4 (Andrew Wenger 2); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Boniek García, Andrew Wenger 1); SAVES: 2
Houston Dynamo vs. Houston Baptist University
Preseason Friendly (70 minutes – two 35-minute halves)
February, 11 2017 – Houston, Texas
Scoring Summary:
HOU: T.J. Casner
HOU: Own Goal
HOU: Emilio Garcia
HOU: Ruben Luna
HOU Taylor Hunter
Houston Dynamo: Calle Brown; Kai Greene, Danilo Radjen, Robby Sagel, Taylor Hunter; Emilio Garcia, Memo Rodriguez, Christian Lucatero; Jose Escalante, Ruben Luna, T.J. Casner
