The Houston Dynamo Reserves improved to 2-1 on the season with a 1-0 victory over the Real Salt Lake Reserves late Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium. Mike Chabala scored the game's only goal, and goalkeeper Tyler Deric made five saves to earn his second shutout of the Reserve League season.
Houston's next match is scheduled for Sunday, May 29, against FC Dallas at the Carl Lewis Track & Field Complex at 10 a.m.
The Dynamo took an early lead in the 14th minute when Chabala, starting in central midfield, took a pass from Jason Garey, stepped up to the top of the penalty arc, and rifled a left-footed shot just inside the right post.
Real Salt Lake almost tied the game shortly after on a long-range shot from Nelson Gonzalez, but Deric made a fantastic leaping save to tip the shot over the bar. Shortly after, midfielder Josue Soto made a goal-line clearance from a Jean Alexandre header to keep it a 1-0 game. Late in the first half, Deric saved a free kick from Gonzalez to keep the score 1-0 Houston at the half.
The Dynamo almost doubled their lead in the 72nd minute when Garey played in Alex Dixon on a breakaway, but RSL goalkeeper Kyle Reynish came out to the top of the box and denied Dixon as he tried to dribble in on goal. In the 75th minute, Dixon broke into the box from a tight angle following a free kick, but Reynish made a reflex save from close range.
The game marked the first appearance for Houston since March 19 for Jamaican defender Jermaine Taylor, who had missed time with a foot sprain.
The Dynamo had four current Dynamo Academy players available for the match: Chance Bergen (Cy Woods), Bryan Celis (Katy Mayde Creek), Miguel Zapata (Katy Mayde Creek), and Christian Gonzalez (Spring Woods). Bergen played the second half at forward.
MORE: DYNAMO RESERVES SCHEDULE
Houston Dynamo (2-1-0) vs. Real Salt Lake (1-3-0)
May 14, 2011 -- Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT
MLS Reserve League -- Central/Mountain Division
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Mike Chabala 1 (Jason Garey 1) 14
Houston Dynamo
-- Tyler Deric, Kofi Sarkodie, Jermaine Taylor, Eddie Robinson, Jordan Graye, Alex Dixon, Mike Chabala, Je-Vaughn Watson (Francisco Navas Cobo 46), Josue Soto, Jason Garey, Koke (Chance Bergen 46).
Substitutes Not Used: Zach Carr, Bryan Celis, Christian Gonzalez, Miguel Zapata.
Real Salt Lake -- Kyle Reynish, Tony Beltran, Chris Schuler, Rauwshan McKenzie, Donny Toia, Luis Gil, Jean Alexandre, Nelson Gonzalez, David Flores, Conor Chinn, Maikon Orellana.
Substitutes Not Used: Chris Melia, Julio Alarcon, Ricardo Velasco, Collen Warner.
Misconduct Summary:
RSL -- Donny Toia (caution; Reckless Tackle) 4
HOU -- Jermaine Taylor (caution; Reckless Tackle) 44
RSL -- Conor Chinn (caution; Persistent Infringement) 49
HOU -- Chance Bergen (caution; Reckless Foul) 73
HOU -- Jason Garey (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 93+
RSL -- Jean Alexandre (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 93+
RSL -- Nelson Gonzalez (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 93+
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
