The Houston Dynamo captured the Major League Soccer Reserve League Central/Mountain division championship with a 2-1 triumph over the Chicago Fire on Saturday morning at Houston Amateur Sports Park’s Methodist Championship Field. Cam Weaver scored both goals for the Dynamo, including the game winner after Victor Pineda delivered an impressive strike for Chicago’s equalizer.
With the win, the Dynamo Reserves finish the season 6-2-2 (20 points), a point better than rival FC Dallas (6-3-1, 19 points) to capture the division crown. Weaver completed a five-goal week with Saturday’s brace after recording a hat trick in Wednesday's Reserve League match at Real Salt Lake. The forward led the Dynamo Reserves in scoring with 11 goals in nine games.
The Dynamo seized an early advantage just five minutes into the match after midfielder Colin Clark was taken down in the penalty area. Weaver buried the penalty kick past Fire goalkeeper Jay Nolly for a 1-0 lead.
In the 29th minute, Pineda produced a deserved equalizer. After corralling the ball on the left side of the field, Pineda sent a well-struck, curling shot from 30 yards into the far-side of the net for the Fire equalizer.
Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric made seven saves in the win, including two important stops in the first half. Early on, Deric used his foot to stop a shot from Kellen Gulley. In the 36th minute, Chicago’s Tony Walls flicked a header toward goal but Deric pushed it over the crossbar for another important save. In the 65th minute, Joel DeLass ran in alone at the Dynamo goal but Deric delivered once again.
Five minutes later, Weaver and Alex Dixon combined for the game winner. Dixon beat his defender inside the area and passed to Weaver, who despite falling away from goal, got enough on his low shot to beat Nolly to the far post for a 2-1 lead.
It is Houston’s second MLS Reserve League division title. The Dynamo captured the division crown in 2008 with a 9-1-2 record.
The Fire finish the Reserve League season 4-6-0 (12 points), including a 1-0 home win over the Dynamo on April 16.
The Dynamo resume Major League Soccer play on Saturday, Oct. 20, when they host the Philadelphia Union at 6:30 p.m. on Fan Appreciation Night, presented by The Home Depot. The first 5,000 fans through the gates will receive a mystery gift card.
Houston Dynamo Reserves (6-2-2) vs. Chicago Fire Reserves (4-6-0)
Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012
Methodist Championship Field – Houston, TX
MLS Reserve League
Scoring Summary:
HOU – Cam Weaver 10 (penalty) 5
CHI – Victor Pineda (unassisted) 29
HOU – Cam Weaver 11 (Alex Dixon 3) 70
Houston Dynamo Reserves: Tyler Deric; Kofi Sarkodie, Warren Creavalle; Nathan Sturgis; Renan Coelho; Kofi Sarkodie; Alex Dixon, Giles Barnes (Brian Ownby 63), Luiz Camargo, Colin Clark; Cam Weaver; Brian Ching (Colin Rolfe 63)
Substitutes Not Used: Erich Marscheider (GK); Jose Rodriguez, Christian Gonzalez, Carlos Ibarra
Chicago Fire Reserves: Jay Nolly; Dan Gargan, Steven Kinney, Kyle Heffer, Hunter Jumper; Michael Videira, Corben Bone, Alex, Victor Pineda; Tony Walls (Marcus Epps 72), Kellen Gulley (Joel DeLass* 64)
Substitutes Not Used: Wells Thompson
Guest player
*Academy player
