Houston Dynamo Reserves took a 2-0 lead mid-way through the second half and held on late for a 2-1 win over D.C. United Reserves. Stuart Holden and Erik Ustruck tallied for the visitors, while Justin Moose scored for the Black-and-Red. With the win, Houston improves to 2-1-1 (7 points) on the campaign, while United falls to 1-1-1 (4 points).
The traded near misses early on. United's Bryan Arguez launched a 30-yard bid that drew the right goal post 10 minutes in. Houston's Corey Ashe broke free minutes later, but Jay Nolly tipped his chipped effort just wide. Rod Dyachenko later ran unmolested through the Dynamo midfield and narrowly missed the upper right corner with his bending right-footed attempt. Dyachenko forced a reaction save by Zach Wells with a quick toe poke 25 minutes in. Nolly kept the teams scoreless to the break, reacting quickly from his line to deny Chris Wondolowski.
Houston emerged the aggressor to start the second half. Nolly robbed Mike Sambursky at the re-start, but Houston would continue to press. Wondolowski gained possession at the end line before calmly slotting a pass to an unmarked Holden for a 1-0 lead.
Wells again saw the goal post be his friend as Dyachenko's header struck iron in the 80th minute. A minute later, Ustruck headed Holden's corner kick past Nolly for a 2-0 lead. United responded nearly immediately, as Justin Moose took a pass from Jeff Carroll and fired a 25-yard shot past Wells for the final 2-1 margin.
Houston Dynamo Reserves (2-1-1) - GK - Zach Wells, D - Eric Ebert, D - Craig Waibel (Erik Ustruck 62), D - Pat Ianni, D - Mike Chabala, MF - John Michael Hayden, MF - Stuart Holden, MF - Nick Hatzke (Mpho Moloi 80), MF - Corey Ashe, F - Chris Wondolowski, F - Mike Sambursky
D.C. United Reserves (1-1-1) - GK - Jay Nolly, D - Marc Burch, D - Clyde Simms, D - Stephen Deroux, D -Devon McTavish (Jeff Carroll 70), MF - Bryan Arguez, MF - Kasali Casal, MF - Justin Moose, MF - Rod Dyachenko, F - Brad North (Leo Cullen 55), F - Nick Addlery
Scoring Summary:
HOU - Stuart Holden (Chris Wondolowski) 52
HOU - Erik Ustruck (Stuart Holden) 81
DC - Justin Moose (Jeff Carroll) 85
Misconduct Summary:
DC - Rod Dyachenko (caution, 86)
HOU - Mike Chabala (caution, 89)
HOU - Corey Ashe (caution, 90+)
