The Houston Dynamo Academy, presented by Statoil, fell to the U.S. U-17 men’s national team 3-0 Thursday night in the official soft opening of BBVA Compass Stadium. Ahinga Selemani scored two goals and Tyler Turner added a third as the visitors overpowered the hometown club in the first soccer match in the Dynamo’s new downtown stadium.
With a sea of orange filling the stadium, the Dynamo Academy controlled the run of play early, pestering the U-17 USMNT defense but unable to test goalkeeper Paul Christensen. The Dynamo attempted nine shots in the first half but put only two on target.
The U-17 USMNT broke through in the 32nd minute. Selemani picked up the ball on the right flank and used a combination of speed and force to get past left back Christian Gonzalez. With a step past his defender, Selemani placed the ball past a lunging Fernando Piña.
Rubio Rubin nearly doubled the visitors’ lead minutes later. Rubin pushed the ball past his defender but he hit his attempt into the side-netting.
The U-17s came out strong in the second half, pushing the ball deep into the Dynamo third. Selemani scored his second of the match in the 49th minute, dribbling past three defenders before hammering the ball past Piña.
Four minutes later, the visitors scored again, this time off a set piece. Angel Heredia’s original ball sailed over both squads, but Cameron Lindley did well to chase it into the corner. The holding midfielder sent a looping ball back into the penalty box and Turner soared over his mark to head the ball into the net.
With a crowd of 8,611 cheering on the Dynamo Academy players, the home team pushed for a late goal.
In the 72nd minute, Christian Gonzalez chipped the ball over the defense to Alan Arellano. Arellano broke free on net, but he pushed his attempt wide of the far post.
In the 87th minute, second-half sub Bryan Salazar beat his defender on the right flank and headed toward the net. Goalkeeper Evan Louro came off his line to cut off the angle. Salazar attempted to blast the ball past the goalkeeper but Louro stayed big and deflected the attempt.
With the clock winding down, the Dynamo Academy found one last opportunity to get on the score sheet. Second-half sub Elo Ozumba found himself one-on-one with Louro. The tall striker attempt to curl the ball around an the on-rushing goalkeeper but his attempt just missed the near post.
Houston Dynamo Academy vs. U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team
May 10, 2012
BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas
Attendance: 8,611
Scoring Summary:
U-17 USMNT - Ahinga Selemani 32’
U-17 USMNT - Ahinga Selemani 49’
U-17 USMNT - Tyler Turner 53’ (Cameron Lindley)
Dynamo Academy – Fernando Piña (Leopoldo Castillo 83’); Samuel Omondi (Alex Ochoa 50’), Bradley Bourgeois, Erik Tello (Manuel Chavez 77’), Christian Gonzalez; Martin Agredo (Christian Diaz 50’), Jorge Andrade (Bryan Salazar 50’), Juan Lopez (Raymundo Marquez 61’), Jorge Contreras (Jose Rodriguez 61’); Alan Arellano, Glen Reid (Elochukwu Ozumba 72’)
U-17 USMNT – Paul Christensen (Evan Louro 46’), Shaquell Moore (Elijah Martin 60’), John Requejo Jr. (Adonis Amaya 60’), Tyler Turner, Kevin Politz (Jorge Miranda 60’), Cameron Lindley, Corey Baird (Mukwelle Akale 60’), Angel Heredia (Aaron Meyer 60’), Ahinga Selemani (Wesley Wade 60’), Junior Flores (Christopher Lema 60’), Rubio Rubin (Bradford Jamieson 60’).
Misconduct Summary:
None
Official Information
Referee: Kyle Phillips
Referee’s Assistants: Greg Boles; Midge Van Es
Fourth Official: Enea Zhonga
Weather: windy, 75 degrees
