MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo Host Aston Villa F.C. on Saturday

July 25, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


HOUSTON (Friday, July 25, 2014) - The Houston Dynamo meet Aston Villa F.C. of the Barclays Premier League in the BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup on Saturday at 8 p.m. CT at BBVA Compass Stadium. Tickets are available at www.HoustonDynamo.com, by calling 713-276-GOAL, or by visiting the BBVA Compass Stadium box office (2200 Texas St., Houston) from noon through kickoff tomorrow.

The BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup, benefitting Dynamo Charities, is an annual match between the Dynamo and a prominent international opponent. Previous Charities Cup opponents include Stoke City (England), Valencia CF (Spain), Bolton Wanderers (England), Club Deportivo Aguila (El Salvador) and CF Monterrey (Mexico). The Dynamo are 3-2-0 all-time in Charities Cup play.

Tomorrow's game will be streamed live at www.HoustonDynamo.com and can be heard on Yahoo Sports Radio 1560 AM and 850 AM (Spanish).

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.

The club features U.S. Men's national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan, a veteran of two World Cups, and striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, the team's all-time Premier League leading goal scorer with 67 tallies. In addition, Villa features Belgium international forward Christian Benteke, who led the club with 10 goals last season before rupturing his Achilles tendon in April and missing the World Cup. The squad includes midfielder Leandro Bacuna, 22, and Andreas Weimann, 22, who each had five goals last season. Finally, midfielder Fabian Delph, who made his Premier League debut at 20 years old in 2009 and made 30 appearances last season to earn Aston Villa Supporters Player of Year honors.

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. 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.

The BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup is part of 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.

Following Saturday's game, the Dynamo return to MLS play on Aug. 3 when they host D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium.

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