The Houston Dynamo Reserves fell 3-2 at home to FC Dallas in a back-and-forth match Sunday morning at the Carl Lewis Track & Field Complex. Ruben Luna scored two goals and Chris Seitz made five saves for FC Dallas, while Josue Soto notched two assists for Houston.
Dallas took the lead in the 18th minute after a handball was whistled against Houston at the top of the penalty area. Ricardo Villar's free kick was saved by Tyler Deric, but Dallas midfielder Eric Avila reached the rebound first and poked it home for the lead.
Houston tried to respond in the 30th minute with a long through ball from Jordan Graye to Colin Clark, who had scored the tying goal in Saturday's first-team game, but Seitz did well to paw away Clark's chip.
Dallas then doubled its lead in the 41st minute, as Luna beat Deric to a long ball and tapped into an empty net. Houston almost responded just before halftime with a right-wing cross from Francisco Navas Cobo, but Clark's shot was cleared off the goal line by a Dallas defender.
Trailing 2-0, Houston responded with a quick start to the second half, buoyed by substitutes Danny Cruz, in his first game action since April 23, and Chance Bergen, a Dynamo Academy forward making his third Reserve League appearance. Houston pulled a goal back in the 47th minute with terrific ball movement through the midfield, setting up Soto for a cross into the penalty area which Bergen converted with an accurate diving header into the far corner.
Dallas came right back with a disputed goal in the 50th minute, as Villar chipped a pass through for Luna, who brought the ball down and scored easily as the Dynamo appealed for a handball.
Houston continued to control the second half, outshooting Dallas 13-4 in the second half, but Seitz kept his team in the game. In the 62nd minute, Soto broke free on the right and dropped a pass for Jason Garey in the penalty area, but Seitz dove to his right to make a great stop. In the 77th minute, one of Houston's 13 corner kicks found Eddie Robinson at the back post, but Seitz tipped Robinson's volley onto the crossbar and it bounced near the goal line before being cleared.
The Dynamo did pull a goal back in the 83rd minute after a combination between three Dynamo Academy players - Miguel Zapata (Katy Mayde Creek), Ábe Matamoros (Strake Jesuit), and Bergen - yielded a free kick in the left corner. Soto took it quickly, finding Garey for an accurate header at the back post. The Dynamo pushed forward but could not find an equalizer and fell to 2-2 on the season. Houston is next in action on Tuesday, June 7, hosting the Colorado Rapids.
MORE: DYNAMO RESERVES SCHEDULE
FC Dallas (3-0-0) vs. Houston Dynamo (2-2-0)
May 29, 2011 -- Carl Lewis Track & Field Complex, Houston, TX
MLS Reserve League -- Central/Mountain Division
Scoring Summary:
FCD -- Eric Avila 1 (unassisted) 18
FCD -- Ruben Luna 2 (unassisted) 41
HOU -- Chance Bergen 1 (Josue Soto 1) 47
FCD -- Ruben Luna 3 (Ricardo Villar 1) 50
HOU -- Jason Garey 2 (Josue Soto 2) 83
FC Dallas -- Chris Seitz, Andrew Wiedemann, Victor Ulloa, Jamie Rosales, Moises Hernandez, Ricardo Villar (Danny Garcia 79), Kekoa Osorio (Bryan Leyva 69), Bruno Guarda, Eric Avila, Peri Marosevic, Ruben Luna.
Substitutes Not Used: Eduardo Cortez, David Robledo.
Houston Dynamo -- Tyler Deric, Hunter Freeman (Christian Gonzalez 67), Bobby Boswell, Eddie Robinson, Jordan Graye, Francisco Navas Cobo (Ábe Matamoros 78), Josue Soto, Je-Vaughn Watson (Chance Bergen 46), Colin Clark (Danny Cruz 46, Miguel Zapata 67), Jason Garey, Alex Dixon.
Substitutes Not Used: Bryan Celis, Chris Dodd.
Misconduct Summary:
HOU -- Eddie Robinson (caution; Intentional Handball) 17
HOU -- Colin Clark (caution; Reckless Foul) 21
FCD -- Victor Ulloa (caution; Intentional Handball) 22
HOU -- Bobby Boswell (caution; Dissent) 92+
FCD -- Jamie Rosales (caution; Tactical Foul) 94+
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
