Photo: Wilf Thorne/Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo 0 : 1 Austin Aztex
by Scott Nicholls, Houston, Texas
A late own goal settled this Texas derby in favor of the visiting Aztex at Houston Sports Park after Raul Rodriguez put the ball into his own net in the 86th minute to defeat a Houston side which had returned undefeated from Tuscon, AZ with two wins and a draw.
Head coach Owen Coyle was not unduly depressed:
“We don’t want to lose any games, but today was a very valuable lesson and I’m glad it happened just now as opposed to the season proper, because that can happen in the league—you can go and dominate games and you’re not clinical enough and all of a sudden there’s a sucker punch at the end.”
The Dynamo, without striker Giles Barnes due to a thigh injury, lined up to start the game in a 4-5-1 formation as follows: Tyler Deric (GK), Kofi Sarkodie, Raul Rodriguez, Jermaine Taylor, DaMarcus Beasley, Alexander Lopez, Ricardo Clark, Luis Garrido, Brad Davis (c), Boniek Garcia, and Will Bruin.
The Aztex defended well as the Dynamo pressed and pressed for a goal throughout the game. But it was evident early that it could be “one of those days” for the Dynamo.
Will Bruin saw a shot and a header fly over the Aztex crossbar. New signing Raúl Rodriguez powered a header towards goal from a Brad Davis corner but saw his header skim the top of the crossbar. A minute later Will Bruin raced through the heart of the Aztex defense but his effort was ruled offside.
The Aztex had a chance of their own toward the end of the first half. Beasley needlessly gave away a free-kick on the right hand side of the penalty area and Mikey Ambrose fired in a dangerous in-swinging cross that defender Kyle Hoffer met but could only direct it over the bar.
The first half was highlighted by some excellent link-up play on the right hand side of the pitch by Kofi Sarkodie and Boniek Garcia. They created opportunity after opportunity for the Dynamo — the best of which falling to Will Bruin and Brad Davis, but both were unable to force the Aztex goalkeeper into any real action.
The Dynamo came out with a lot of energy after dominating the first half, and 10 minutes into it Garcia found his way in behind the defense but with his back to goal, laid it back to Will Bruin but Bruin couldn’t find the target from 12 yards out. Garcia and Sarkodie combined well again for the Dynamo down the right, Sarkodie whipping in dangerous crosses but was unable to connect with any of the Dynamo strikers.
The Dynamo continued to dominate, but couldn’t find the back of the net — JJ Johnson had a golden opportunity after being set up by a very dangerous ball into the 6 yard area by new acquisition from LA Galaxy Chandler Hoffman but he struck the outside of the post.
The breakthrough came in the 86th minute when Aztex winger Chuy Cortes put a low cross in from the right hand side which beat Deric and Raúl Rodriguez, with an outstretched leg, turned it into his own net.
There are a lot of positives to come from the game, though. The Dynamo dominated the game, possession, and the shot count after an initial cagey spell but just couldn’t find a way through on the day.
“It was a game we totally controlled, Tyler [Deric] didn’t have a save to make, but when all is said and done you’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net,” said Coyle of the Dynamo’s performance and added that the result vs the Aztex was ”a good lesson because you’ve got to learn that when you’re on top in a game you’re dominating you’ve got to take your chances.”
Despite the result Owen Coyle still believes preparations for opening day are going well for the Dynamo:
“This is an important lesson towards that [opening day vs Columbus]. If you’re going to lose games in that manner, you’d rather lose them in pre-season… We got in behind them 15 or 20 times which doesn’t normally happen, but we did it by good play. The one thing that was missing today was scoring the goals that your play deserves. So a lot to be pleased about, but lessons learned.”
The man of the match was Boniek Garcia, but was followed closely by Raul Rodriguez. Garcia was a constant threat down the right hand side, his mazy runs and killer balls dumfounded the Aztex defense, while Raul Rodriguez looked to command the back-line extremely well despite scoring an own goal on the day.
Though the combination of Will Bruin, JJ Johnson and Chandler Hoffman couldn’t find the net it was Hoffman who stood out from the three in his short run-out. His work-rate and vision were responsible for creating the Dynamo’s best chance that JJ Johnson scuppered, after sending a bullet-like shot that looked destined for the goal into the midriff of an Aztex defender.
Hoffman is pleased with his performance this pre-season but has been very modest about his impressive showing. The young MLS Cup winner says he’s just “looking for an extended run of minutes,” and to “prove he can score goals at this level.” Learning from the likes of Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane out in LA, there’s plenty to be excited about for Dynamo fans regarding Chandler Hoffman.
In all the Dynamo looked very fluid with their passing game and solid on defense, barring a little rust from the strikers this could’ve been an absolute drubbing. Up next is the Carolina Challenge Cup where the Dynamo will meet New York City FC, Orlando City FC, and the Charleston Battery.
Scoring Summary:
AUS: Own Goal (Raúl Rodríguez) 86
Houston Dynamo – Tyler Deric; Kofi Sarkodie, Raúl Rodríguez, Jermaine Taylor, DaMarcus Beasley (Corey Ashe 68); Boniek Garcia (Leonel Miranda 68), Ricardo Clark (Nathan Sturgis 46), Luis Garrido, Brad Davis (*Rob Lovejoy 78); Alexander Lopez (Jason Johnson 65); Will Bruin (Chandler Hoffman 65)
Austin Aztex – Devin Perales (Cody Laurendi 46); Bubacarr Jobe (Mikey Ambrose 68), Kyle Hoffer (Leone Cruz 46), Ryan Roushandel, Mikey Ambrose (Max Gunderson); Lance Rozeboom (Greg Mulamba 46, Tony Rocha 68), Tony Rocha (Guaraci 46), Brendan King (Fernando Timbo 46); Mozzi Gyorio (Andres Cuero 46), Bryce Taylor (Chuy Cortes 46), Crew Yates (Brian Fekete 46)
*Trialist
Discipline summary:
None
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
