The Houston Dynamo closed their two-game road trip to South Texas with a 5-0 victory over Rio Grande Valley FC at H-E-B park this evening.
The match was played in four 30-minute periods and the Dynamo took the lead after defender Adam Lundkvist found midfielder Tomas Martinez in the heart of the box for the first goal of the game in the 15th minute.
The Dynamo doubled their lead in the second period when defender Maynor Figueroa tackled the ball away from an RGV defender and found forward Mauro Manotas at the near post. Manotas beat pressure to the ball by sliding at the near post in the 37th minute for his first goal of the preseason.
Forward Michael Salazar scored Houston’s third goal of the game in the third minute of the fourth period. The Belize international dribbled toward the near post and beat the RGV FC goalkeeper with a tight shot at the bottom corner.
Salazar finished with a brace minutes before the final whistle after he snuck behind the RGV FC backline and beat the goalkeeper at the near post. Midfielder Tommy McNamara scored the final goal of the evening from the penalty spot after a Toros defender fouled forward Juan Obregon inside the box.
Houston pressed in the opening minutes of the first period with back-to-back shots from Manotas and forward Alberth Elis inside the box. Manotas’ effort was blocked in the seventh minute by a defender and the rebound fell to the Honduran international. Cody Cropper got a touch on Elis’ shot for Houston’s first corner kick of the game.
The Toros forced a save in the 53rd minute when Timo Mehlich’s effort was saved at the near post by Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Maric.
The Dynamo responded three minutes later when Martinez found Manotas near the penalty spot. Manotas’ effort was saved at the far post by Michael Nelson.
Forward Christian Ramirez was inches away from his first goal of the preseason, but he just missed a cross from forward Niko Hansen at the far post in the 83rd minute.
Three Dynamo Academy players and one alum joined the scrimmage in the final period as Juan Castilla and Danny Rios joined the Toros and Josh Hallenberger played for the Dynamo. Christian Lucatero suited up for RGV for the final period of the night.
The Dynamo return Houston Sports Park on Tuesday as they prepare for their final road trip of the preseason later this month in Tucson, Arizona. Houston kick off their 2020 campaign on Saturday, Feb. 29 when they host their longtime rivals the LA Galaxy on Opening Day presented by BBVA.
Match Summary:
Scoring Summary:
Tomas Martinez (Adam Lundkvist) 23’
Mauro Manotas (Maynor Figueroa) 37’
Michael Salazar (N/A) 93’
Michael Salazar (N/A) 111’
Tommy McNamara (penalty kick) 118’
TEAM 1 2 3 4 FINAL
RGV FC 0 0 0 0 0
Houston Dynamo 1 1 0 3 5
Team Sheets:
PERIOD 1: Marko Maric; Adam Lundkvist, Maynor Figueroa, Kiki Struna, Jose Bizama; Matias Vera, Boniek Garcia; Tomas Martinez; Memo Rodriguez, Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis (Christian Ramirez 23’)
PERIOD 2: Marko Maric; Adam Lundkvist, Maynor Figueroa, Kiki Struna, Jose Bizama; Matias Vera, Boniek Garcia; Tomas Martinez (Niko Hansen 60’); Memo Rodriguez, Mauro Manotas, Christian Ramirez
PERIOD 3: Cody Cropper; Andrew Samuels, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Victor Cabrera (Sam Junqua 65’), Zarek Valentin; Darwin Ceren, Isidro Martinez, Tommy McNamara; Niko Hansen, Christian Ramirez, Nico Lemoine
PERIOD 4: Michael Nelson; Andrew Samuels, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Sam Junqua, Zarek Valentin; Darwin Ceren, Josh Hallenberger, Isidro Martinez; Tommy McNamara, Michael Salazar, Nico Lemoine (Juan Carlos Obregon)
