The Houston Dynamo defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-0 in a closed-door scrimmage on Saturday morning at Kino Sports Park. The teams will face off at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday in the Desert Diamond Cup final to close out the preseason slate (Watch at HoustonDynamo.com/live).
José Escalante grabbed the opening goal in the 13th minute. Sprinting down the left side, the Honduran lunged at full stretch to get a foot on a midfield pass from Emilio Garcia. Escalante connected at the top of the penalty box and was able to direct the ball past the keeper and inside the far post.
The Dynamo would continue to control much of the scrimmage, contested between reserves and trialists on both sides, with shots by Garcia, Memo Rodriguez, and T.J. Casner forcing saves from the Colorado goalkeeper. Rodriguez, a Dynamo Academy product, had a long distance shot saved off the crossbar in the 77th minute. Ruben Luna finished the match with a goal in the 89th minute, after Tyler Turner's long ball to Casner was partially cleared.
The Dynamo return to Houston on Sunday to prepare for the season opener against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday, March 4 (7:30 p.m., TICKETS).
Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids
Preseason Scrimmage
Tucson, Arizona — Saturday, February 25, 2017
Scoring Summary:
HOU: José Escalante (Emilio Garcia) 13
HOU: Ruben Luna (unassisted) 89
Houston Dynamo: Jake McGuire (Calle Brown 65); George Malki, Taylor Hunter, Ivan Magalhães, Tyler Turner; Joseph Holland (Ari Sanchez 79), Emilio Garcia, Memo Rodriguez; T.J. Casner, Ruben Luna, José Escalante
Unused substitutes: Edgar Reyna
