The Houston Dynamo posted their fourth consecutive preseason shutout, as they defeated Montreal Impact 2-0 Wednesday morning at The Home Depot Center, in Carson, Calif. Colin Clark and Cam Weaver scored the goals and Tally Hall made four saves in his first preseason appearance of 2012.
In a back-and-forth first half, neither team was able to control the run of play. Montreal nearly got on the board first in the 27th minute when Sanna Nyassi ran on to a ball played over the top of the Dynamo defense. The Gambian forward took a touch and fired the shot low, but Hall dove to his right to stop the shot.
Although Houston was able to get some pressure on the Montreal back line in the first half, they were unable to test goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and the two teams finished the first 45 minutes scoreless. To begin the second half, the Dynamo subbed out half of their squad, including their entire back line.
The Dynamo broke through in the 67th minute, when Will Bruin received the ball in the Montreal penalty box. The second-year forward held off a defender before playing the ball to trialist Philip Aseweh. The supplemental draft pick from Liberty University moved the ball across the six-yard-box to midfielder Colin Clark who fired the ball into the empty net.
Houston doubled its lead in the 83rd minute off a cross from Warren Creavalle. The 2012 MLS SuperDraft pick raced past a Montreal defender and played the ball to Bruin in the box. Bruin dummied the ball to an open Cam Weaver who one-timed the ball past second-half goalkeeper Evan Bush.
The Dynamo will train tomorrow on the practice fields at The Home Depot Center before taking on LA Galaxy on Friday at 12:30 p.m. CT. Friday’s match is open to the media but closed to the public.
HoustonDynamo vs. Montreal Impact
February 8, 2012 – The Home Depot Center – Field 4
Preseason Scrimmage
Scoring Summary:
HOU – Colin Clark (Philip Aseweh, Will Bruin) 67
HOU – Cam Weaver (Warren Creavalle) 83
Houston Dynamo – Tally Hall, Kofi Sarkodie (Andre Hainault 46), Bobby Boswell (Jermaine Taylor 46), Geoff Cameron (Nathan Sturgis 46), Corey Ashe (Oscar Recio 46), Brian Ownby (Warren Creavalle 61), Adam Moffat (Josue Soto 61), Je-Vaughn Watson (Daniel Roberts 61, Cam Weaver 81), Eder Arreola (Colin Clark 46), Darryle Roberts (Philip Aseweh 61), Colin Rolfe (Will Bruin 46).
Montreal Impact– Donovan Ricketts (Evan Bush 46), Zarek Valentin (Jeb Brovsky 46), Shavar Thomas (Nevio Pizzolitto 46), Tyson Wahl (Gienir Garcia 46), Josh Gardner (Simon Gatti 46), Davy Arnaud (Gerson Mayen 46), Patrice Bernier (Collen Warner 46), Felipe Martins (Bryan Arguez 46), Justin Mapp (Ian Westlake 46), Sanna Nyassi (Eduardo Sebrango 46), Brian Ching (Justin Braun 46, Felipe Martins 68).
