Houston Dynamo FC defeated Louisville City FC in two closed-door games this afternoon at BBVA Stadium.
The Dynamo earned a 2-0 victory in the 90-minute scrimmage with goals from newcomers Fafa Picault and Maxi Urruti. Dynamo Academy alum Memo Rodriguez scored a brace, forward Mateo Bajamich finished with two assists and Christian Ramirez added a goal in Houston’s 3-0 victory over Louisville in a 25-minute game.
Houston got on the scoreboard early in the first encounter of the day after Dynamo midfielder Darwin Ceren dribbled away from a pair of defenders to find Matias Vera outside the box. Vera slipped a pass through the defense to an oncoming Picault in the seventh minute for his first preseason goal of the year.
Houston doubled their lead in the 30th minute after Picault’s cross was cleared by the Louisville backline. The ball fell to Urruti outside the box and the forward’s effort from distance found the inside of the far post.
Louisville forced a save from Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Maric in the 41st minute with a shot from the top of the box. Maric finished with four saves prior to leaving the game in the 65th minute.
In the second encounter of the day, Bajamich tallied the first of two assists in the opening minutes . The Argentine wingerwas pressured by a Louisville defender and Bajamich held firm to find Rodriguez inside the box. The Dynamo Academy alum beat the Louisville goalkeeper at the far post with a shot from the six-yard box.
Houston doubled their lead off a turnover in the final third. Darwin Quintero won the ball off a Louisville defender and found Ramirez at the top of the box for his first goal of the preseason.
Bajamich once again found Rodriguez in the final minutes of the scrimmage for the final goal of the day. Rodriguez dribbled around three Louisville defenders at the top of the box to create space for his long-range effort. The 25-year-old beat the Louisville goalkeeper again at the far post.
The Dynamo return to BBVA Stadium on Wednesday at 1 p.m. to host Austin Bold FC. The preseason game is free and open to the public, additional information is available here.
