The Houston Dynamo continued their participation in the Desert Dimond Cup with a victory against New York City FC, 3-1.
The Dynamo struck first and early. In the second minute, midfielder Juan David Cabezas won a ball near midfield and found forward Erick Torres on the right side. The forward found forward Romell Quioto coming in the middle of box and the striker took a first-touch shot to beat NYCFC’s goalkeeper Sean Johnson at the right post.
In the 15th minute, NYCFC’s defense cleared a corner kick and started a counter attack to equalize the score. Forward Jack Harrison received a pass from midfield and pressed to the final third before laying the ball off to forward David Villa on the right side. Villa took a touch and put the ball inside the far post to tie the game.
In the 38th minute, referee Nima Saghafi called for a video assisted review after issuing a yellow card to Villa for unsporting behavior after an incident with defender A.J. DeLaGarza. After reviewing the video, Saghafi changed the yellow card to a red card. This was the first time that video assisted review was used at a Dynamo game. The system is being tested during select MLS preseason games, including all of the Dynamo matches in Tucson.
In the 50th minute, midfielder Alex controlled a high ball and swiftly turned past a defender to create space inside the penalty area. He took a touch and slipped a low-left footed shot past Johnson to put the Dynamo ahead 2-1.
Defender DaMarcus Beasley made his preseason debut in the 63rd minute as a substitute. Three minutes later the left back took a pass from forward Mauro Manotas inside the box, but Beasley’s shot was deflected by a defender resulting in a corner kick.
Houston made eight substitutions in the 71st minute including forward TJ Casner who tested NYCFC goalkeeper Andre Rawls with a volley in the 81st minute.
The final goal of the game came in the 89th minute after defender Kevin Garcia won a tackle in midfield and midfielder Memo Rodriguez recoverd the ball, then found Casner along the right flank. His cross was intercepted by an NYCFC defender, but the ball fell to Rodriguez inside the six-yard box for the Dynamo Academy product's first goal of the preseason.
The Dynamo are now 2-0-0 in the Desert Diamond Cup. They return to training on Monday and Tuesday before facing off against New York Red Bull on Saturday night in Tucson.
New York City FC vs. Houston Dynamo
Desert Diamond Cup
February 18, 2017 – Tucson, Arizona
(All stats are unofficial)
Scoring Summary:
HOU: Romell Quioto 1 (Erick Torres 1) 2
NYCFC: David Villa (Jack Harrison) 15
HOU: Alex 2 (unassisted) 50
HOU: Memo Rodriguez 1 (unassisted) 89
New York City FC: Sean Johnson (Andre Rawls 60); Ben Sweat (Shannon Gomez 46), Maxime Chanot, Frederic Brilliant, RJ Allen; Andrea Pirlo, James Sands (Kwame Awuah 74), Maxi Moralez (Jalen Brown 46); Tommy McNamara, David Villa ©, Jack Harrison
Unused Substitutes: Ethan White, Shannon Gomez, John Stertzer, Khiry Shelton, Sean Okoli
Total shots: 3; Shots on goal: 3; Fouls: 10; Offside: 1; Corner kicks: 1; Saves: 3
Houston Dynamo: Tyler Deric (Calle Brown 71); A.J. DeLaGarza (Jalil Anibaba 71), Adolfo Machado (Taylor Hunter 71), Leonardo (Kevin Garcia 71), Dylan Remick (DaMarcus Beasley 63); Ricardo Clark© (Eric Alexander 63), Juan David Cabezas (Emilio Garcia 71), Alex (Memo Rodriguez 71); Alberth Elis (Josè Escalante, 71), Erick Torres (Mauro Manotas 63), Romell Quioto (T.J. Casner 71)
Total shots: 15; Shots on goal: 9; Fouls: 14; Offside: 2; Corner kicks: 7; Saves: 2
Disciplinary Summary:
HOU: Juan David Cabezas (caution; reckless challenge) 30
HOU: Leonardo (caution; dissent) 30
NYCFC: David Villa (ejection; unsporting behavior) 38
NYCFC: Ben Sweat (caution; reckless challenge) 44
NYCFC: Shannon Gomez (caution; unsporting behavior) 69
Referee: Nima Saghafi
Assistant Referees: Claudia Badea, Logan Brown
Fourth Official: Kevin Scott
