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February 28, 2010
HOUSTON DROPS DALLAS 2-1
Ferreira puts FCD on scoreboard first
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David Ferreira scored a quick goal in the 13th minute against the Dynamo, but FCD couldn't find the net again Saturday and lost 2-1.
Photo by Michael Stephens |
It was just a preseason match, including trialists and rookies. But even so, Saturday’s 2-1 loss to the Houston Dynamo is a stinger because of the fierce emotion between the Texas and Western Conference rivals.
At least, the Red Stripes will get a chance for revenge in the league opener on home grass, less than a month away. Houston’s victory earned the Dynamo a third-place finish in the preseason Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
In one respect, both teams stepped up a notch from the semifinal, because neither managed a goal. In Saturday’s game, both teams had a goal in hand by the 16th minute. David Ferreira opened it up with a goal for FCD in the 13th minute. Speedy Marvin Chavez laid the ground work racing toward goal and drawing some defense. Then he fed off to Ferreira, left alone in front of the net for a tap-in goal.
The Dynamo answered just three minutes later on a long-distance bomb from Jamaican trialist Lovel Palmer. His shot got a piece of the right post, deflecting into the goal by FCD goalie Dario Sala.
Houston’s Danny Cruz came close to the post, but was just wide, four minutes from the intermission. Dax McCarty came back for Dallas on a corner kick in the 44th minute, but Atiba Harris’ volley soared over the bar. While Houston got to see its national team contingent of Geoff Cameron, Brian Ching and Brad Davis, absent the last three weeks, Dallas was still missing forward Jeff Cunningham (groin strain) and defender Heath Pearce, who is extending his national tour to next week’s game in Holland. McCarty played for the second straight game and looked strong in midfield.
Houston won the game on a sloppy Dallas defensive mistake. Houston trialist Navion Boyd slipped in on a careless back pass and got into a 1-v-1 with Dallas’ Sala. Boyd’s shot was stopped but the rebound went straight to Cam Weaver, who stuck it back from 20 yards and caught Sala out of position after dove to save Boyd’s shot.
FCD’s big chance came in the 68th minute as rookie Eric Alexander received a cross just 15 yards from net. Dynamo goalie Pat Onstad made a diving save to his right to deny Alexander the equalizer.
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