For the club’s four outgoing trialists, Houston’s preseason win over FC Dallas on Saturday was their last chance to impress the coaches. And for the club’s two newcomers, it was just the beginning.
Steven Morrissey, Francois Swaby, Lester Peltier, JeVaughn Watson, Jermaine Taylor, and Richard Edwards all got 45 minutes in the match to show their skill. All but Taylor and Edwards wrapped up their two-week trial, hoping to catch the eye of head coach Dominic Kinnear and his staff.
“I thought all the (trialists) helped us get the result today,” Kinnear said. “I thought Watson handled himself well … Swaby made some good runs, and obviously Steven [Morrissey] with the penalty at the end all helped.”
Morrissey drew the penalty kick in the 91st minute when Scott Gordon pulled down the speedy forward while making a run inside the penalty box.
“When I got the ball, I saw the defender start to go back, so I pushed the ball into space and used my speed,” Morrissey said.
For Taylor and Edwards, it was the first action with the club since arriving in Houston late in the week. Playing in what turned out to be an intense and physical match was tough with new teammates, but both players held their own.
“The first training session I did well … I want to get acquainted with these guys and get the football speech down,” Edwards said.
Taylor looked good in his center back pairing with Bobby Boswell in the second half. Kinnear noted Boswell’s communication as reason the pair did well.
“Bobby’s a good talker back there, and he helped [Taylor],” Kinnear said. “[Taylor] looked comfortable on the ball and made some good passes out of the back.”
Taylor and Edwards will accompany the club this week to Phoenix, Ariz. for scrimmages against Sporting Kansas City, the Columbus Crew and the Portland Timbers.
Game Notes
- With 5,432 fans turning out for the match, the Dynamo were very impressed with the show of support for MLS in south Texas; “The crowd’s great. It was great last year, and that’s why we came back,” said Dynamo forward Brian Ching.
- Lovel Palmer got off several quality crosses from right back in the second half, but fans should not get used to seeing him there: “He plays there for Jamaica … it is not what we are trying to do with [Palmer], but we wanted to get him game time, and right back was the easiest position,” said Kinnear.
- Geoff Cameron put in a quality shift in midfield, scoring a goal on three shots on goal and combining with Corey Ashe on a high back-heel pass to create another shot on goal. Cameron will be counted on to make plays in the middle this season.
Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on twitter at @Dynamoexaminer.
