The Houston Dynamo claimed the 2016 BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup with a 5-4 victory in penalties over Real Sociedad after finishing 3-3 in regulation.
The Dynamo jumped out to a 3-0 lead with goals from David Rocha, Mauro Manotas and an own goal caused by Manotas, but Real Sociedad roared back in the second half to tie things up before the final whistle. In penalties, La Real captain Xabi Prieto missed the lone attempt as he put his chip shot down the middle off the crossbar.
Houston got on the board in the 22nd minute after Real Sociedad controlled much of the early proceedings. Dynamo midfielder David Rocha—a native of Spain—sent a free kick from left side into the box with attackers waiting. Jalil Anibaba made a run to the near post, freezing Real Sociedad goalkeeper Ander Bardaji, but ducked away at the last second to allow the ball to travel uncontested into the far side of the goal.
The Dynamo doubled up less than 10 minutes later in the 31st minute as forward Mauro Manotas got to the endline inside the penalty area. He sent in a cross from the right side, but defender Mikel Gonzalez slid across to intercept it, only to bundle it into the back of the net.
Manotas got the ball in the back of the net on his own four minutes after halftime. The young Colombian received a pass just past the midfield line and raced towards goal from the right side. He beat a defender with a nifty cutback to his left, then struck with his left foot from 22 yards out and placed his shot in the bottom corner for his third Dynamo Charities Cup goal after scoring two in 2015.
Real Sociedad began their comeback in the 55th minute. Substitute Jon Bautista dribbled to the endline on the left side of the Dynamo penalty area, then squared a pass back across the goal. The ball beat second half goalkeeper Joe Willis and found the Prieto just a foot away from the goal.
Bautista got on the scoresheet himself in the 59th minute, as a lofted ball from the right side found him alone at the penalty spot. The 20-year-old chested it down and poked it past Willis with ease.
Real Sociedad equalized in the 73rd minute. A tackle from Sheanon Williams on David Zurutuza just inside the box on the right side prodded the ball loose, and Ruben Pardo stepped up to strike it first time. His curling shot beat Willis to the near post from 20 yards away.
With no victor through 90 minutes, the teams went straight to a penalty kick shootout to determine the champion. Real Sociedad, shooting first, went down a kick in the second round with Prieto’s miss. The teams traded conversions the rest of the way, and Will Bruin’s goal in the fifth round sealed the shootout win for Houston.
It marks the fifth BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup claimed by the Dynamo in the competition’s eight-year history, and the first to be decided by penalties. Proceeds from the annual exhibition match benefit a local nonprofit organization. This year’s beneficiary is the “Pursuit for those with disABILITIES” bicycle ride, a 3,500-mile cross-country trek to raise money and awareness for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Houston Dynamo vs. Real Sociedad
BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup
May 24, 2016—BBVA Compass Stadium—Houston, Texas
Attendance: 13,675
Scoring Summary:
HOU: David Rocha (unassisted) 22
HOU: Mikel Gonzales de Martin (OG) 31
HOU: Mauro Manotas (unassisted) 49
RSO: Xabier Prieto (Jon Bautista) 55
RSO: Jon Bautista (Xabier Prieto) 59
RSO: Rubén Pardo (David Zurutuza) 72
Penalty Summary:
RSO: Rubén Pardo (Converted)
HOU: Cristían Maidana (Converted)
RSO: Zabier Prieto (Missed)
HOU: David Rocha (Converted)
RSO: Assier Illarramendi (Converted)
HOU: Agus Garcia (Converted)
RSO: David Zurutuza (Converted)
HOU: Sheanon Williams (Converted)
RSO: Geronimo Rulli (Converted)
HOU: Will Bruin (Converted)
Houston Dynamo: Tyler Deric (Joe Willis) 48; Abdoulie Mansally, Raul Rodgriguez © (Agus Garcia) 62, Sebastian Ibeagha, Jalil Anibaba (Bradley Bourgeois) 62; Zach Steinberger (Sheanon Williams) 83, Collen Warner (Cristían Maidana) 62, David Rocha; Leonel Miranda (Christian Lucatero) 75, Boniek Garcia (Rob Lovejoy) 45; Mauro Manotas (Will Bruin) 62
Unused substitutes: Calle Brown
TOTAL SHOTS: 7; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 13; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 1; SAVES: 7 (Tyler Deric 7)
Real Sociedad: Ander Bardají (Geronimo Rulli 46); Joseba Zaldua (Alvaro Odriozola 46), Mikel Gonzalez ©, Srdan Babic (Andoni Ugarte 46), Alberto De la Bella (Yuri Berchiche 46); Markel Bergara (Alejandro Sanz 46), Esteban Granero (Asier Illarramendi 46), Igor Zubeldia (Rubén Pardo 46), Eneko Capilla (David Zurutuza 46); Carlos Vela (David Zurutuza 46), Jon Bautista
Unused substitutes: Aritz Elustondo
TOTAL SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 10; FOULS: 5; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2 (Ander Bardají, Geronimo Rulli tied with 1)
Disciplinary Summary:
HOU: Agus Garcia (caution) 84
HOU: Sheanon Williams (caution) 90
Referee: Les Stalmach
Assistant Referees: Jonathan Johnson, Jeff Greeson
Fourth Official: Michael Lavergne
