MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo Game Notes -- July 26 vs. Aston Villa F.C.

July 26, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


Houston Dynamo vs. Aston Villa F.C.

Saturday, 26 July 2014 - 8:00 p.m. CT

BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup

BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, TX

Broadcast InformationDynamo Media Contacts (@HoustonDynamo.com)

Live web stream: www.HoustonDynamo.comLester Gretsch (lgretsch@ 832-633-0632)

Radio: Yahoo Sports Radio 1560 AM; 850 AM (Spanish)Matt Pedersen (mpedersen@ 832-794-8673)

2014 Houston Dynamo Digital Media GuideBen Crook (bcrook@ 832-865-7531)

Dynamo welcome Aston Villa F.C. for sixth-annual Charities Cup

The Houston Dynamo host Aston Villa F.C. of the English Premier League tonight in the BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Charities Cup, benefitting Dynamo Charities, is an annual match between the Dynamo and a prominent international opponent. Previous BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup opponents include Stoke City F.C. (England; 2013) Valencia CF (Spain; 2012), Bolton Wanderers (England; 2011), Club Deportivo Aguila (El Salvador; 2010) and CF Monterrey (Mexico; 2009). The Dynamo are 3-2-0 all-time in Charities Cup play.

Charity Benefit

Proceeds from the BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup will benefit the "Building a Better Houston" initiative, a campaign led by Dynamo Charities and BBVA Compass to make improvements in Houston's East End. The annual game funds Junior Achievement scholarships and the Business of Sports program for high school students in the fall. Additional initiatives included a home renovation in April and financial education programs for East End this week.

Dynamo Notes

Dynamo, Toronto FC trade goals in 2-2 draw: Will Bruin and Giles Barnes scored as the Houston Dynamo and Toronto FC played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. The teams exchanged goals twice in the first half before playing a scoreless second half. Bruin opened the scoring in the 11th minute, hustling to challenge a back pass from Toronto FC defender Bradley Orr to goalkeeper Joe Bendik and collecting the misplayed pass before finishing into an empty net for a 1-0 lead. It was Bruin's team-leading seventh goal of the season. The Dynamo nearly doubled the lead seven minutes later as Brad Davis settled the ball with his chest and turned onto his left foot to shoot from 10 yards, forcing a strong save from Bendik, who dove to his left to keep it out. But Toronto FC leveled the score within a minute. Dominic Oduro sent a cross from the right flank to Justin Morrow on the left edge of the box. Morrow used one touch to center the ball to Gilberto, who turned and tucked a low shot inside the post for the equalizing goal. The Dynamo answered in the 26th minute as Ricardo Clark slid a forward ball to Barnes in the center of the field. Barnes turned and carried the ball forward before unleashing a low drive from 25 yards that curled away from Bendik and hit the side of the net inside the far post for a 2-1 lead. Barnes has recorded two goals and two assists in his last three games. It was Barnes' fifth goal of the season. Toronto FC was awarded a penalty kick one minute later and Michael Bradley took the spot kick, sending it low and to his right but it crashed off the post for a miss. TFC produced its second tying goal of the half in stoppage time. Luke Moore collected the ball near the corner and drove toward the endline before sending a cross in front of goal that was finished from close range by Dominic Oduro moments before halftime. A minute after halftime, Tally Hall produced an important save, diving far to his left to parry a shot from Moore wide of the post. The Dynamo came close to finding a winning goal in the 75th minute. Substitute midfielder Andrew Driver beat two defenders with a low pass to Bruin on the right side of the box. Bruin used a good first touch to set up a chance from a tight angle, and Bendik made another good save at the near post to keep the score tied. A minute later, Davis and Boniek Garcia combined on a beautiful sequence at the top of the box that ended with Garcia's clever layoff for Davis, who forced another vital save from Bendik. In the 90th minute, Bruin headed a goal kick in the path of Barnes, who drove a low shot from another acute angle to the far post, but Bendik palmed the shot wide for his fourth save of the half.

A LOOK AT ASTON VILLA F.C.

History: Founded in 1874, Aston Villa is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in the history of English soccer. The Villans have the fourth-highest total of major honors won by an English club, having won the First Division Championship and the FA Cup seven times each. Villa also won the 1981 - 82 European Cup and are one of five English clubs to win what is now the UEFA Champions League. Aston Villa has remained in the Premier League since its inception in 1992.

Manager Paul Lambert: Villa manager Paul Lambert had a long playing career and won the 1997 UEFA Champions League with Borussia Dortmund, defeating Zinedine Zidane and Juventus in the final. Lambert then won four Scottish Premier League titles in seven seasons with Celtic. As a manager, Lambert guided Norwich City to the rare feat of promotion in two consecutive seasons, lifting the club from League 1 in the 2009-2010 season to the Premier League in 2011. Lambert took over at Villa in June 2012 and enters his third season in charge this summer. Lambert appointed Roy Keane, a legend with Manchester United and the Ireland national team, his primary assistant coach on July 1.

Key players:

Brad Guzan: U.S. Men's national team goalkeeper and a veteran of two World Cups (2014 and 2010)...Named Aston Villa Player of the Year for 2012-13 season...MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2007 with Chivas USA

Gabby Agbonlahor: The forward is Aston Villa's all-time Premier League leading goal scorer with 67 tallies.

Christian Benteke: The Belgian international (17 caps) led the club with 10 goals last season before rupturing his Achilles tendon in April and missing the World Cup.

Leandro Bacuna: 22-year-old winger scored five goals last season and had 20 caps with the Netherlands U-19 and U-21s.

Fabian Delph: The midfielder made 30 appearances last season to earn Aston Villa Supporters Player of Year honors...Made his English Premier League debut at 20 year old in 2009

Andreas Weimann: The forward/winger already has 11 caps for Austria national team at 22 year of age after earning 27 caps with the U-17 to U-21 teams.

Philippe Senderos: The defender appeared in his third World Cup with Switzerland in 2014...Signed with Villa on June 5 after stints with Valencia, Fulham, Everton, A.C. Milan and Arsenal...50 caps for the Swiss.

Joe Cole: The midfielder made 56 appearances for the England national team...Part of three World Cup squads and Euro 2008...Signed with Villa on June 10 after playing with West Ham, Lille, Liverpool and Chelsea, where he won three Premier League titles and three FA Cups. Named to PFA Team of the Year in 2006 (Premier League Best XI) and Chelsea Player of the Year in 2008.

Shay Given: Goalkeeper was starter at 2002 World Cup and earned 125 caps for the Republic of Ireland, second-most in Ireland history to Robbie Keane...Two-time PFA Team of the Year (2002 and 2006)...Spent 12 seasons and made 354 appearances with Newcastle United...Also played with Manchester City and Middlesbrough.

Darren Bent: 185 goals in 455 career appearances in all completitons with Villa, Sunderland, Tottenham, Charlton and Ipswich Town...Scored 24 Premier League goals in 2009-10 season with Sunderland...13 caps with England national team.

Charities Cup History

The tradition started in 2009, when the Dynamo hosted Mexican club Monterrey at Robertson Stadium and earned a 2-1 win behind goals from Geoff Cameron and Dominic Oduro.

The Dynamo welcomed Aguila of El Salvador in 2010, and goals from Joseph Ngwenya, Corey Ashe, Oduro and Luis Angel Landin secured a 4-0 victory.

In 2011, the Dynamo brought their first European competition to town in the form of former Dynamo star Stuart Holden's new club, Bolton Wanderers. Bolton handed the Dynamo their first loss in the friendly competition with a 2-0 score.

In 2012, Spanish powerhouse Valencia was one of the first clubs to visit the new BBVA Compass Stadium (just 19 days after its opening), and left with a 2-1 victory in front of a sellout crowd behind two goals from forward Aritz Aduriz. Dynamo forward Calen Carr left the home fans with something to talk about after he drove home a spectacular 22-yard goal into the upper corner.

Last year, England's Stoke City visited Houston to kick off its three-city U.S. tour in the return of former Dynamo star and U.S. international Geoff Cameron, who transferred to Stoke City in 2012. Two Englishman provided the goals - a free kick from Andrew Driver in the 11th minute and a long run and finish from Giles Barnes in the 88th minute - as the Dynamo earned a 2-0 triumph.

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