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Houston Dynamo Game Notes -- May 31 vs. Valencia CF

May 31, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS) Houston Dynamo

The Houston Dynamo welcome Spanish giants Valencia CF to Houston on Thursday in the fourth edition of the BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup. It marks the first-ever meeting with a Spanish club for the Dynamo. Partial proceeds from the match will benefit Junior Achievement, an organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness and financial literacy.

Valencia is one of the most successful clubs in Spain, having won six league titles and seven Copa del Rey trophies since it was founded in 1919. The club finished third in the 2011-2012 Liga BBVA standings and was a semifinalist in the 2011-2012 UEFA Europa League. Valencia has finished among the top four in Spain's first division in four of the last six seasons and has qualified for the UEFA Champions League in five of the last seven seasons. Also known as "The Orange" of "Els taronja", the club lost in the UEFA Champions League Final in 2000 and 2001. Valencia's travelling roster for Thursday's friendly includes Brazilian forward Jons, captain David Albelda, French international defender Jrmy Mathieu and first-choice goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

DYNAMO PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP (4-4-2, Right-Left)

Tyler Deric;

Warren Creavalle, Jermaine Taylor, Nathan Sturgis, Corey Ashe;

Calen Carr, Adam Moffat, Luiz Camargo, Brad Davis;

Will Bruin, Brian Ching

Dynamo Notes

Dynamo fall in U.S. Open Cup: The Dynamo were defeated 1-0 by the San Antonio Scorpions in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Thursday night in San Antonio. The Scorpions, an expansion club in the North American Soccer League, advance to the quarterfinals to meet the Charlotte Eagles on June 5. San Antonio midfielder Hans Denissen converted a penalty in the 51st minute for the winning goal. Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric was outstanding in goal, producing several quality saves to keep Houston in the game.

Cameron, Hainault, Watson called in for national duty: Geoff Cameron was named to the 23-man U.S. men's national team roster for three friendlies and two World Cup qualifiers. Cameron joined the camp on May 20 and will miss up to two MLS games (vs. LA; @ VAN, 6/10) before returning for the Texas Derby on June 16. It is Cameron's third national team call-up. Andre Hainault has been called into the Canadian men's national team camp ahead of a friendly vs. USA and two World Cup qualifiers. Hainault has 24 caps for Canada and will joined the Canadian Soccer Association in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. after Saturday's win over the Galaxy. He will return for the FC Dallas match on June 16. Je-Vaughn Watson was called up by Jamaica and joined the national team on Sunday for a pair of friendlies against Panama and two World Cup Qualifiers before he rejoins the Dynamo for the June 16 match with FC Dallas.

Hainault hits 100 starts: Andre Hainault started vs. the Galaxy on Saturday for his 100th start in all competitions for the Dynamo.

First Comeback Win: The Dynamo recorded a 2-1 win on Saturday over LA Galaxy for their first come-from-behind win of the season. Prior to Saturday the Dynamo were 0-3-1 on the season when allowing the first goal of the game.

Western Expansion: After Saturday's 2-1 win over the Galaxy the Dynamo are now 3-1-1 against the Western Conference this season, with wins against Chivas USA, the San Jose Earthquakes and the Galaxy. Houston is 1-2-3 vs. the Eastern Conference. Five of those six games were played on the road.

Second Half Savants: The Dynamo are now 3-0-4 in games in which they were tied at halftime and 1-0 when leading at halftime. They are a perfect 4-0-4 when they are tied or leading at the break. Houston is 0-3 when trailing at the interval.

Daytime Dominance: With Saturday's matinee win over the Galaxy, Houston improved to 4-0 in day games this season, with wins over Chivas USA, San Jose, D.C. United and the Galaxy. The Dynamo are 0-3-4 at night, but six of the seven night games have been on the road. Houston has four more day games this season (6/10 at Vancouver, 6/16 vs. FC Dallas, 7/28 at Toronto FC and 9/30 at Philadelphia).

75 assists for Davis: Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis recorded his 75th assist for the Dynamo in all competitions with his corner kick that Andre Hainault headed into the net for the winning goal on Saturday vs. the LA Galaxy. Davis is the Houston's all-time leader in assists.

Hainault's game-winners: Defender Andre Hainault's 57th-minute winner vs. the Galaxy was his second game-winning goal of the season. Hainault buried a shot from 12 yards in the second minute of stoppage time on opening day, a 1-0 win at Chivas USA on March 11, for his first game-winner this season.

Cameron's streak ends: Geoff Cameron missed Saturday's game with Galaxy while playing for the U.S. in its 5-1 win over Scotland. It was the first MLS game that Cameron has missed since May 4, 2011 vs. Colorado. Prior to Saturday, Cameron had started and played full time in 40 consecutive matches (playoffs included), the most ever among Houston field players. Cameron played 3,576 consecutive minutes in MLS play (playoffs included) before Saturday's absence. Goalkeeper Tally Hall leads all players with 45 consecutive MLS starts. Brad Davis' streak of 45 consecutive starts was broken at Chicago on April 15 due to a calf strain.

BBVA Compass Stadium opener: The Dynamo opened the 13th soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer on May 12. On a gorgeous 82-degree day in front of a sell-out crowd of 22,039, the Dynamo honored past legends, including Wade Barrett, Pat Onstad, Eddie Robinson and Craig Waibel in a pregame ceremony that included the unveiling of 2006 and 2007 MLS Cup championship banners. Brad Davis provided a signature opening moment, delivering a beautiful, curling 30-yard strike for the game-winning goal in the 67th minute.

Clutch: Luiz Camargo's 87th-minute equalizer at New England on May 19 was Houston's third late goal on the road this season. Brian Ching's equalizer in the 81st minute at Columbus on April 21 and Hainault's game-winner two minutes into stoppage time at Chivas USA on March 11 were also reminiscent of 2011 for the Dynamo. Last year, Houston scored 14 goals in the final 15 minutes of games, the second most in MLS (Seattle).

1st for Camargo: Luiz Camargo's equalizer in the 87th minute at New England on May 19 was his first MLS goal.

4 games in 11 days: The Dynamo completed a stretch of four games in 11 days with the 2-2 draw at New England on May 19. While Dominic Kinnear rotated the squad throughout the run of games, several players logged large quantities of minutes. Tally Hall, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron and Jermaine Taylor each logged all 360 minutes in the four games. Calen Carr (327 minutes), Brad Davis (324) and Will Bruin (273) each logged solid time as well.

Ashe moves to second on franchise list: With his start on May 15 Portland, Corey Ashe played in his 137th MLS regular season game to move to second on the Dynamo all-time list, passing Brian Mullan and Pat Onstad.

Boswell Bicentennial: Bobby Boswell faced his former team (D.C. United) on May 12 for his 200th Major League Soccer appearance in his eight-year career. Boswell also made his 200th MLS start vs. the Galaxy on Saturday. The central defender has been very consistent in his career, averaging 27.4 games per season and has played every minute of every match in 2012. Boswell has played at least 23 games in each season and has played full time in 22 consecutive matches (U.S. Open Cup included) dating to Sept. 14, 2011 at Columbus.

Clean Sheets: The Dynamo earned their fourth clean sheet through nine games in the 0-0 draw with Portland on May 15. Through nine games in 2011, the Dynamo had recorded just one shutout. Houston recorded a total of six shutouts in the 2011 regular season.

Carr Centennial: Calen Carr's start at New England on May 19 was his 100th MLS regular season appearance.

Davis reaches 25 Dynamo goals with BBVA Compass opener: Brad Davis' sensational 30-yard strike against D.C. United on May 12 was his 25th goal in all competitions with the Dynamo. Davis is the third Dynamo player to reach 25 goals, joining Brian Ching (64) and Dwayne De Rosario (32). It was Davis' 37th MLS regular season goal.

Offensive: The Dynamo produced 38 shots in their first two games at BBVA Compass Stadium. May 15 vs. Portland the Orange bombarded Troy Perkins with 18 shots. On May 12, the Dynamo outshot D.C. United 20-4 for their most shots in a game this season. Houston set a franchise record with 27 shots vs. New England on April 17, 2011 at Robertson Stadium.

Davis Milestone: Brad Davis started against D.C. United on May 12 for his 150th MLS regular season start with the Dynamo. Davis is the franchise leader in regular season starts.

175 for Ching: Brian Ching started vs. D.C. United on May 12 for his 175th appearance for the Dynamo in all competitions. He is the fourth Dynamo player to reach 175 (Brad Davis, Brian Mullan, Corey Ashe).

Cameron Climbing: With Cameron's start at New England on May 19 he reached 141 appearances in all competitions to pass Wade Barrett for seventh on all-time list.

Boswell Milestone: Bobby Boswell's start at New York on May 9 was his 150th Dynamo start in all competitions. He is the fifth Dynamo player to start 150 (Brad Davis, Pat Onstad, Brian Mullan, Brian Ching).

Corey Ashe made his 175th appearance for the Dynamo in all competitions at D.C. on April 28. He is the third Dynamo player to reach 175 appearances in all competitions (Brad Davis, Brian Mullan).

Brian Ching's start against D.C. United on April 28 was his 150th start in all competitions for Houston to become the fourth Dynamo player to make 150 starts (Brad Davis, Pat Onstad, Brian Mullan).

Will Bruin scored in three consecutive games (4/15, 4/21, 4/28) to mark the fifth time a Dynamo player has scored in three consecutive games (Bruin 2012, Ching 2006, 2008; Joseph Ngwenya 2007; Stuart Holden 2009).

The three goals allowed by the Dynamo on April 28 at D.C. United marked the first time Houston has allowed three goals in a game since Sept. 10, 2011, a 3-0 loss at Sporting Kansas City. The Dynamo went 15 games without allowing three goals in that stretch.

Possession: Despite playing their first seven games on the road, the Dynamo have won the possession battle in nine of 11 games on the season and had slim disadvantages in the others. Houston had a 60-40% advantage vs. LA, 62% possession at New England, 60% vs. Portland, 56% vs. D.C., 53% at New York, 54% at D.C., a slim 49-51% disadvantage at Columbus, 55% at Chicago, 56% at Seattle, a narrow disadvantage (48-52%) at San Jose, and 53% at Chivas USA.

First Road Win of 2012: Houston's 1-0 win over Chivas USA erased bad memories of the 2011 road schedule. It took Houston 16 games to record its first road win of the 2011 campaign. After a 0-6-9 start, the Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 1-0 at Pizza Hut Park on September 24.

Six years after the club's first match on April 2, 2006, only two players remain on the Dynamo roster: Brian Ching and Brad Davis. Defender Eddie Robinson retired in January and joined the front office as an assistant coach with the team's Youth Academy and as a color analyst on TV broadcasts.

UP NEXT: Dynamo head to british columbia to meet the whitecaps

The Dynamo return to the West Coast, where they played their first three games of the season, to face the Vancouver Whitecaps on June 10 at BC Place. It will be Houston's sixth game against the Western Conference this season and following its June 16 game with FC Dallas, the Dynamo will play Eastern Conference teams for 19 of its last 21 games.

Injury Report Presented by The Methodist Center for Sports Medicine (As of Tuesday, May 29)

HOUSTON DYNAMO

OUT: DF Kofi Sarkodie (R foot sprain); GK Erich Marscheider (R shoulder sprain)

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 31, 2012


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