Cam Weaver’s goal a minute before halftime stood up as the game-winner as the Houston Dynamo Reserves defeated the Montreal Impact Reserves, 1-0, on Saturday morning at Houston Methodist Champions’ Field at Houston Sports Park.
The Dynamo Reserves finish the MLS Reserve League season 5-4-0 (15 points) in the East Division. The Impact Reserves are now 4-4-3 (15 points).
Houston’s scoring play began with a well-weighted through ball from Dynamo guest player Joe Dixon, who threaded his pass to Omar Cummings. The Dynamo forward drove toward the near post before slotting a pinpoint pass to Weaver, who finished his chance from eight yards for a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute.
The Dynamo pushed for a second goal after halftime. In the 63rd minute, Cummings struck a shot from 15 yards that forced a good save from Montreal goalkeeper Max Crépeau.
The Impact came close to equalizing five minutes later as Victor Ndiaye, an Impact Academy player, broke into the box before Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric slid to block his shot.
Just two minutes later, Deric came up with another important save. Impact substitute forward Andrew Wenger raced in behind the Houston defense and drove a low shot that required a foot save from Deric.
The Dynamo had two chances in the 78th minute, as Jason Johnson’s hard shot from 12 yards was saved by Crépeau before the rebound fell to Andrew Driver, who fired wide from six yards.
Ndiaye continued to threaten late in the game, including a chance in the 90th minute, but his shot sailed over the crossbar from 15 yards for Montreal’s last chance on goal.
Deric recorded his second Reserve League shutout of the season.
Houston Dynamo Reserves (5-4-0; 15 points) vs. Montreal Impact Reserves (4-4-3; 15 points)
MLS Reserve League
October 5, 2013 — Houston Sports Park, Houston, Texas
Scoring summary:
Houston Dynamo: Cam Weaver 1 (Omar Cummings 1) 44
Houston Dynamo: Tyler Deric; Christian Gonzalez, Eric Brunner, Antony Arena, Mike Chabala; Jason Johnson, Servando Carrasco, Alexander Lopez, Joe Dixon (Bryan Salazar 46); Cam Weaver © (Andrew Driver 61), Omar Cummings (Memo Rodriguez 89^)
Substitutes not used: Erich Marscheider, Stuart Close^, Irvin Ramirez, Calen Carr
Montreal Impact: Max Crépeau; Maxim Tissot (Louis Beland-Goyette 61^), Amine Meftouh^, Dominique Morin^, Karl W. Ouimette ©; Blake Smith, Paolo Del Piccolo, Jérémy Gagnon-Lapare^, Zakaria Messoudi; Sanna Nyassi (Andrew Wenger 67), Victor Ndiaye^
Substitutes not used: None
*Guest player ^Academy player
Misconduct Summary:
HOU: Eric Brunner (caution) 8
MTL: Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare (caution) 53
HOU: Anthony Arena (caution) 55
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
Referee's Assistants: Greg Boles, Gabriel Powell
4th Official: Ricardo Hernandez