MLS Houston Dynamo FC

Houston Dynamo Split Doubleheader in Final Preseason Tune-Up

Published on February 22, 2020 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Houston Dynamo FC News Release


TUCSON, ARIZ. - The Houston Dynamo split a two-game slate at Kino Sports Complex today, falling 4-1 to Columbus Crew SC in the final game of the 2020 Visit Tucson Sun Cup this evening and defeating OKC Energy FC 3-1 earlier in the afternoon.

Forward Gyasi Zardes gave Columbus an early lead when he headed a cross from midfielder Artur in the opening minute of the game. The Crew doubled their lead three minutes later off a corner kick from midfielder Pedro Santos. The cross found Jonathan Mensah at the edge of the six-yard box for the second goal of the game.

Midfielder Lucas Zelarayan gave Columbus a three-goal lead in the 16th minute after the Argentine capitalized on a second ball near midfield. Zelarayan dribbled to the top of the box and beat Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Mariæ at the far post. Zardes scored his second goal of the game in the 24th minute off a cross from Harrison Afful.

Dynamo midfielder Tommy McNamara capitalized on a defensive mistake in the 52nd minute for Houston's first goal of the game. The midfielder controlled an errant pass at the top of the box and beat Crew SC goalkeeper Eloy Room with a curling shot to the near post.

Houston appeared to pull a second goal back in the 89th minute when forward Mauro Manotas slipped in behind the Columbus back line to run onto a through ball from forward Darwin Quintero. Manotas easily converted the chance, but was judged to be offside. It was the first action of the tournament for Quintero as the Colombian prepares for his first season with the Dynamo.

Houston's first shot of the game came in the 13th minute after midfielder Tomas Martinez was fouled outside the box. Defender Adam Lundkvist took the free kick and controlled the rebound after his initial effort was blocked by the Crew backline. The defender's second effort was off target.

Houston forced a save in the 22nd minute after Manotas found McNamara at the top of the box. McNamara controlled the cross and his effort toward the bottom corner of the near post was saved by Room.

Winger Niko Hansen had a fantastic opportunity just moments before McNamara's goal, but was denied by the far post in the 49th minute with a strike from outside the box. His left-footed shot had the goalkeeper beaten but caromed off the woodwork. Manotas tracked the rebound but was not able to make full contact with the ball near the penalty spot.

Forward Christian Ramirez scored a brace earlier today in Houston's 3-1 victory over OKC Energy FC. Defender Jose Bizama found the forward near the heart of the box and Ramirez beat the OKC goalkeeper at the far post for the final play of the first 30-minute period. Dynamo Academy product Marcelo Palomino found Alejandro Fuenmayor off a corner kick in the 37th minute of the scrimmage. Ramirez scored his second goal of the game from the penalty spot a few minutes later after an OKC defender fouled current Academy player Josh Hallenberger inside the penalty area.

Houston Dynamo (3-1-1 preseason) 1-4 Columbus Crew SC (5-0-2 preseason)

Visit Tucson Sun Cup - Tucson, Ariz.

Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020

SUMMARY

TEAM 1H 2H FT

Houston Dynamo 0 1 1

Columbus Crew SC 4 0 4

CLB: Gyasi Zardes (Artur) 1

CLB: Jonathan Mensah (Pedro Santos) 4

CLB: Lucas Zelarayan (unassisted) 16

CLB: Gyasi Zardes (Harrison Afful) 24

HOU: Tommy McNamara (unassisted) 52

Houston Dynamo: Marko Mariæ; Adam Lundkvist, Maynor Figueroa, Alejandro Fuenmayor (Jose Bizama 23), Zarek Valentin; Matías Vera (Darwin Quintero 74), Tommy McNamara (Boniek García 74), Tomás Martínez (Marcelo Palomino 74); Memo Rodriguez, Mauro Manotas (C), Niko Hansen (Michael Salazar 75)

Unused substitutes: Michael Nelson, Josh Hallenberger, Logan Erb, Cody Cropper, Nico Lemoine, Daniel Rios, Juan Castilla, Sam Junqua, Kyle Adams, Isidro Martinez, Christian Ramirez, Darwin Cerén, Victor Cabrera

Columbus Crew SC: Eloy Room, Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Vito Wormgoor, Milton Valenzuela, Darlington Nagbe, Artur, Pedro Santos, Lucas Zelarayan (Chris Cadden 80), Youness Mokhtar (Derrick Etienne Jr. 58), Gyasi Zardes (Fanendo Adi 77)

Unused substitutes: Andrew Tarbell, Josh Williams, Hector Jimenez, Aboubacar Keita, Axel Sjoberg, Aidan Morris, Josh Hamilton, Miguel Berry

DISCIPLINE:

HOU: Jose Bizama (caution; foul) 38

HOU: Memo Rodriguez (caution; foul) 66

HOU: Tomas Martinez (caution; foul) 67

OFFICIALS:

Referee: Ismir Pekmic

Assistant Referees: Joshua Moorhead

Assistant Referee: Jose B. Rosales Chavez

Fourth Official: Benjamin Davis

VAR: Jorge Gonzalez

Weather: 63 degrees; Mostly cloudy

Check out the Houston Dynamo FC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from February 22, 2020


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central