The Houston Dynamo Academy teams squared off against in-state rival Austin FC in a weekend that was a mixed-bag in terms of results for the Dynamo. Overall, the organization went 1-1-2, with the sole victory coming in the U-13 matchup.
After the matches, Academy Director Paul Holocher was complimentary towards the opposition, saying that Austin offered a good challenge for the Dynamo.
“It was an excellent weekend of competitive matches with Austin FC. I thought we played some good soccer in all the matches, except for one half,” Holocher said. “Austin is athletic and often very direct, so it was interesting to see how we handled those challenges. We are looking forward to the week of training ahead, and excited for the Copa Rayados International tournament here in Houston, over the Thanksgiving week.”
U-17:
The “one half” that Holocher was referring to was the second half of the U-17 match. After a first half in which the Dynamo “pressed well,” according to High Performance Director Tony Vigil, the U-17 squad was unable to capitalize on the chances created. Austin took over in the second half, scoring three goals for a 3-0 victory.
U-15:
The U-15 match was more competitive, as Houston finished with a 1-1 draw against Austin. The most interesting story coming out of this game for the Dynamo is that they have now scored off a corner kick in four consecutive games. This time, it was Adam Abdouh that put the goal away.
U-14:
After a back-and-forth early portion of the game, the U-14 team settled into form and created several high-quality chances in the first half. David Garcia capitalized on one of these chances, putting the Dynamo up 1-0 in the first half.
In the second half, Houston continued to dominate possession. However, the team conceded a corner kick after a long ball from the opposition that Austin took advantage of to level the score at 1 in the final minute.
After the match, head coach Shahad Farahani said the team “displayed great poise and overall showcased their individual and collective quality against a high-level MLS rival.”
U-13:
The lone win for the Dynamo Academy this weekend came from the U-13 team, which defeated its in-state rivals by a final score of 2-1. After starting out “a bit nervy,” according to head coach Tanner Chassman, the team settled into the game through possession and created a number of positive chances in the attacking third.
Alexis Perez scored on an in-swinging free kick halfway through the first half to put Houston up 1-0 going into halftime. In the second half, Colgin Wang put the Dynamo up 2-0 with a first-time strike outside the top of the 18-yard box. Austin scored shortly after, but Houston held on for a 2-1 win.
