SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes Reserves dropped a 3-1 decision to the Houston Dynamo Reserves on Friday morning at Stanton Field on the campus of Santa Clara University. Chris Wondolowski scored two goals for Houston and Kyle Brown added a third for the Dynamo. Jamil Roberts scored the lone goal for the Quakes. The Earthquakes Reserves fell to 1-2-1, while the Dynamo Reserves improved to 3-0-1.
Houston jumped on the board first through a goal from former Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski. Brown received a pass and broke into the box to the right of Quakes goalkeeper Dan Benton. He then slid a ball across the goalmouth to Wondolowski, who tapped it in to the empty net for a 1-0 lead.
San Jose struck back a minute later on a set piece. Joe Vide sent a ball to the back post for Roberts. He leapt and volleyed a shot past Dynamo goalkeeper Tony Caig to even the score at 1-1.
The action continued in the 20th minute, as Matt Hatzke forced Caig to make a difficult save. John Cunliffe found Hatzke on the left wing with a nice pass that got Hatzke free just inside the box. The former Santa Clara star ripped a left-footed shot that Caig tipped over the bar.
Hatzke had two more great chances midway through the first half. Jovan Kirovski found Hatzke in the 27th minute, but he put his header wide. Kelly Gray then set up Hatzke inside the box, but his right-footed effort was pushed off the post by Caig and then cleared away by the defense.
Houston took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Brown seven minutes into the second half. After a scramble in front of the goal, Brown slid and drove a shot past Benton.
Wondolowski scored his second goal of the match in the 62nd minute off a pass from Erik Ustruck. Ustruck, a former Santa Clara player, chipped a ball down the right wing for Wondolowski. Benton came off his line, but Wondolowski won the race for the ball and chipped it over the Quakes goalkeeper and into the net for a 3-1 advantage.
The Quakes Reserves get back into action on Sunday, June 1 against the Real Salt Lake Reserves in Salt Lake City.
Houston Dynamo Reserves (3-0-1) vs. San Jose Earthquakes (1-2-1)
May 23, 2008 - Stanton Field at Santa Clara University
Attendance: 115
Scoring Summary: HOU - Chris Wondolowski (Kyle Brown) 11; SJ - Jamil Roberts (Joe Vide), 12; HOU - Kyle Brown (unassisted), 52; HOU - Wondolowski (Ustruck), 62.
Misconduct Summary: None
Houston Dynamo - GK Tony Caig, D Erik Ustruck, D Patrick Ianni, D Craig Waibel, D Stephen Wondolowski, M Geoff Cameron, M Nick Hatzke, M John Michael Hayden, M Brad Davis, F Kyle Brown (Guy-Roland Kpene, 80), F Chris Wondolowski.
Subs not used: Corbin Waller, Brian Farber, Johnny Alcaraz, Thompson
San Jose Earthquakes - GK Dan Benton, D James Riley, D Jamil Roberts, D Amir Lowery (Brandon Owens 68), D Adam Sloustcher, M Adam Smarte (Greg Curry, 81), M Joe Vide, M Kelly Gray, M Matt Hatzke, F Jovan Kirovski (Adrian Melville, 60), F John Cunliffe
Subs not used: Michael Gustavson
