The San Antonio Scorpions secured a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo in a scrimmage on Thursday afternoon at Methodist Champions Field at Houston Sports Park.
Tomasz Zahorski and Walter Restrepo scored second-half goals for San Antonio, a North American Soccer League club preparing for its season opener. The Dynamo featured a reserve-laden lineup ahead of their bye this weekend in MLS.
San Antonio struck first in the 56th minute. After pushing the ball wide to the right flank, the ball was served to Zahorski and the Polish forward finished his chance from the top of the box for a 1-0 lead.
The Scorpions sealed the win in the 85th minute as substitute Sainey Touray slipped a pass to Restrepo, who fired a shot from 15 yards that was slowed down by goalkeeper Tyler Deric’s outstretched leg, but the ball carried over the line for a 2-0 win.
Houston nearly opened the scoring after four minutes. After a foul, the Dynamo restarted quickly and a chance opened up for rookie forwad Mark Sherrod, who drove into the left side of the penalty area and fired a low shot from 15 yards, forcing a strong save from Scorpions goalkeeper Jeremy Vuolo.
Sherrod would come even closer in the 43rd minute. The University of Memphis product settled the ball 30 yards from goal and cracked a well-hit shot off the outside of the post near the upper corner.
Sherrod threatened again a minute after halftime, sending a shot from 25 yards wide of the far post.
Omar Cummings had his best scoring opportunity in the 58th minute, drilling a shot from 15 yards away that sent Vuolo to his right for another save. Sherrod collected the rebound outside the penalty area but fired high from 20 yards.
San Antonio had two chances a minute apart, beginning in the 69th minute. First, Sam Garza took a free kick from 20 yards and came close to the upper corner but missed high. Then, a quality service from Danny Barrera found Touray ten yards from goal, but he steered his header wide of the far post.
Cummings created another chance in the 83rd minute, holding off several defenders after a turn and driving toward goal before firing wide from 25 yards.
The Dynamo are idle this weekend before resuming MLS play on March 29 at Vancouver. Houston returns home to host FC Dallas in the Texas Derby, presented by Novo Nordisk, on April 5 at BBVA Compass Stadium. It is the lone meeting between Houston and Dallas in 2014 and tickets are available by clicking here or by calling 713-276-GOAL.
Houston Dynamo vs. San Antonio Scorpions
March 20, 2014 – Houston Sports Park
Scrimmage
Scoring Summary:
SA: Tomasz Zahorski 56
SA: Walter Restrepo (Sainey Touray) 85
Houston Dynamo – Tyler Deric; Warren Creavalle (Bryan Salazar 62), AJ Cochran, Anthony Arena, Mike Chabala^; Brian Ownby, Alexander Lopez, Servando Carrasco, Jason Johnson; Mark Sherrod, Omar Cummings
San Antonio Scorpions – Jeremy Vuolo; Jonathan Borrajo, Greg Janicki, Adrian Cann, Julius James; Walter Restrepo (Jeff Jennings 87), Josue Soto (Freddie Braun 46), Richard Menjivar, Shaun Saiko (Sam Garza 46); Tomasz Zahorski (Sainey Touray 65), Danny Barrera
^Guest player
