CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Houston Dynamo found the back of the net on three set pieces and a penalty kick Saturday to take a 4-0 win over FC Dallas in a preseason exhibition match dubbed the South Texas Shootout at Corpus Christi’s Whataburger Field.
Despite the score, Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman was happy to finally get his team on the field for a scrimmage after snow and ice blanketed Dallas the first two weeks of preseason, wreaking havoc with the team’s training schedule.
“It’s not the plan to come in here and lose 4-0, but we’re so far behind right now compared to where they are with training time,” said Hyndman. “But, it gives us a chance to look at players. All four goals had the same characteristics (set pieces). What we need to do is just continue to work.”
The Dallas side nearly got on the board in the fourth minute when David Ferreira played a through ball to Brek Shea who got a point blank shot on goal, but Houston’s Tally Hall blocked the attempt with his chest. Shortly after, Ferreira sent a dangerous free kick into the area from an angle about 35 yards out, but Milton Rodriguez couldn’t quite get a head on it. From that point, momentum shifted and stayed in favor of the Dynamo.
In the eighth minute, Brad Davis drew a foul in a spot nearly identical to Ferreira’s a minute earlier. Davis’ free kick fell to the ground and deflected off rookie defender Alexis Pradié for a 1-0 Dynamo lead. Davis and midfielder Geoff Cameron added a little insurance for the Dynamo 20 minutes later when Cameron headed home a Davis corner kick at the near post. Just before halftime, Davis scored yet again on a set piece, drilling a free kick over the wall and past Hartman for a 3-0 Houston lead.
Both teams made significant substitutions in the second half, resulting in a quieter offensive half. The only goal came in stoppage time after Houston trialist Steven Morrissey earned a penalty kick, which Danny Cruz sent low and to the left corner to make it 4-0.
“We’ve got to get our guys healthy,” said Hyndman. “I think it’s a different game with George (John) and Heath (Pearce) and Ugo (Ihemelu) out there. I’m more concerned about our performance in the first half than in the second half. In the first half, we went against, basically, their first team and we had what we consider some of our better players on the field, but the thought right now is let’s get back to work.”
FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo
February 12, 2011 -- Whataburger Field, Corpus Christi TX
Preseason friendly
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Own goal (Alexis Pradié) 8
HOU -- Geoff Cameron (Brad Davis) 29
HOU -- Brad Davis (unassisted) 40
HOU -- Danny Cruz (penalty kick) 93+
FC Dallas -- Kevin Hartman (Chris Seitz 46), Jackson (Andrew Wiedeman 46), Bobby Warshaw (Bruno Guarda 71), Alexis Pradié, Jair Benitez (Moises Hernandez 46), Marvin Chavez (Sheldon Palmer 46, Jason Yeisley 71), Eric Alexander (Bruno Martins 46), Eric Avila (Ricardo Villar 42, Brayan Martinez 72), Brek Shea (Bim Ogunyemi 46, Bryan Leyva 71), David Ferreira (Scott Gordon 46), Milton Rodriguez (Ruben Luna 29, Maykel Galindo 71).
Houston Dynamo -- Tally Hall (Tyler Deric 46), Kofi Sarkodie (Lovel Palmer 46), Eddie Robinson (Bobby Boswell 46), Andrew Hainault (Jermaine Taylor 46), Mike Chabala (Hunter Freeman 46), Corey Ashe (Danny Cruz 46), JeVaughn Watson (Richard Edwards 46), Geoff Cameron (Lester Peltier 46), Brad Davis (Josue Soto 46, Francisco Navas Cobo 76), Brian Ching (Cam Weaver 46), François Swaby (Steven Morrissey 46).
Misconduct Summary:
FCD -- Eric Alexander (caution) 10
Referee: Jasen Anno
Referee's Assistants: Sean Hurd; Adam Garner
4th official: Ismail Elfath
Attendance: 5,432
Weather: Clear-and-60-degrees
