The Houston Dynamo opened the preseason with a 1-0 victory over Rio Grande Valley FC, the club’s USL Championship hybrid affiliate, at the annual Open Practice this evening at BBVA Compass Stadium.
The teams played three 30-minute periods in front of more than 3,000 fans, with the Dynamo and RGV FC facing off in the first two before RGV FC players competed in an intra-squad scrimmage in the third.
The only Dynamo goal of the evening came off a counterattack that was sparked by right back A.J. DeLaGarza after Houston won the ball in its half of the field. DeLaGarza found Dynamo forward Alberth Elis near midfield, and in classic fashion, the Honduran international sprinted past a defender to beat goalkeeper Tyler Deric with a shot toward the far post. Elis’ goal was enough to give Houston the victory in the first period.
Houston's early pressure in the first period earned the Dynamo a penalty kick after a handball was called inside the box in the third minute. Elis’ penalty kick was saved by a diving effort from Deric, who suited up for RGV FC for the first period.
Dynamo forward Mauro Manotas was a key component in the heavy pressure in the first period. The forward had a shot blocked inside the box by an RGV FC defender in the eighth minute. Ten minutes later Dynamo forward Romell Quioto forced a save from Deric in a one-on-one duel inside the box.
A completely different crop of players took the field in the second period for both teams and Houston's constant pressure carried over as Dynamo forward Marlon Hairston forced a save off a one-on-one duel with goalkeeper Joe Willis in the second minute, as Willis and Deric switched teams for the second period.
Four minutes later Dynamo midfielder Memo Rodriguez forced a save with a 25-yard-shot.
Rodriguez generated another dangerous opportunity with eight minutes left in the period after his cross found midfielder Tommy McNamara. McNamara’s header found Hairston outside the six-yard box but his effort was wide of the near post. The second period ended in a scoreless draw.
The third period featured two sides primarily comprised of RGV FC players, along with a handful of young players from the Dynamo First Team. With lineups being juggled and RGV FC just five days into preseason, a miscommunication at the back led to an own goal just moments into the period, giving the Grey squad an early advantage. Both sides created opportunities throughout the period, but neither was able to break through, leaving the final score for the 30 minutes at 1-0 to the Grey.
The Dynamo and RGV FC will each resume preseason training on Monday at Houston Sports Park, and will face off again in a second scrimmage on Tuesday morning.
1st Period
Houston Dynamo – 1
RGV FC – 0
HOU: Alberth Elis (A.J. DeLaGarza) (24')
Houston Dynamo: Joe Willis; DaMarcus Beasley, Kevin Garcia, Aljaz (Kiki) Struna, A.J. DeLaGarza; Matías Vera, Juan David Cabezas, Tomás Martínez; Romell Quioto, Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis
Shots: 5
Shots on Goal: 3
Corner Kicks: 3
Fouls: 1
Offside: 0
Saves: 0
RGV FC: Tyler Deric; Sam Junqua, Kyle Adams, Conor Donovan, Andrew Samuel; Eric Bird, Brad Dunwell, Jesus Enriquez; Andres Arcila, Andy Cabrera, Carlos Small
Shots: 0
Shots on Goal: 0
Corner Kicks: 2
Fouls: 2
Offside: 0
Saves: 1
2nd Period
Houston Dynamo – 0
RGV FC – 0
Houston Dynamo: Tyler Deric; Adam Lundkvist, Sam Junqua, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Chris Duvall; Darwin Cerén, Boniek García, Tommy McNamara; Memo Rodriguez, Marlon Hairston, Andy Cabrera
Shots: 5
Shots on Goal: 2
Corner Kicks: 1
Fouls: 6
Offside: 0
Saves: 0
RGV FC: Joe Willis; Carlos Viveros, Kyle Adams, Erik McCue, Sebastian Gonzalez; James Murphy, Hector Copete, Brandon Morales; Brayan Orozco, Maalique Foster, Aldo Quintanilla
Shots: 2
Shots on Goal: 0
Fouls: 4
Offside: 0
Corner Kicks: 0
Saves: 4
3rd Period
RGV FC Grey – 1
RGV FC Blue – 0
RGV FC Grey: (Own Goal)
RGV FC Grey: Michael Nelson; Robert Coronado, Conor Donavan, Robert Castellanos, Sergio Mena; Caro Anibal Cabrera, Romilio Hernandez, Brandon Morales (Jesse Ortiz), Josue Espana, Nico Lemloine, Johnny Paredes
Shots: 1
Shots on Goal: 0
Corner Kicks: 1
Fouls: 1
Offside: 0
Saves: 0
RGV FC Blue: Nico Corti; Carlos Viveros, Erik McCue, Zach Jackson, Sebastian Gonzalez( Cristian Coelho), Evan Waldrep, David Cabrera, Maalique Foster (Jaylen Anderson), Darrell Johnson, Victor Garza, Miguel Padron
Shots: 3
Shots on Goal: 0
Corner Kicks: 1
Fouls: 0
Offside: 2
Saves: 0
Discipline: None
Officials:
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistant Referee 1: Kyle Atkins
Assistant Referee 2: Jeremy Kieso
Weather: Cloudy, 58 degrees
