By Pearl Allison Lo
Houston came back with three in the second half in a 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday, to close San Jose’s friendly play in Arizona, 3-1.
The Earthquakes’ Chris Wondolowski, Clarence Goodson and the Dynamo’s Brad Davis returned from National Team duty.
In the 13th minute, San Jose’s Jordan Stewart and Shea Salinas led a counterattack across the field.
After teammate Steven Lenhart headed off Houston’s second corner kick and Wondo got the ball, in a similar matter to the 13th, Stewart and Salinas combined to lead to a kick. Tyler Deric saved the ball, but then Wondolowski saw an opportunity after Deric fell and lost the ball, as he quickly raced to finish the play with a goal in the 21st minute.
In the second half, the Earthquakes replacedall of their first half starters.
San Jose’s Mike Fucito nearly had another goal for the second game, in the 57th minute. A long ball by A.J. Corrado led to AJ Cochran being Fucito’s sole field defender and Fucito had to switch from his oft used foot to avoid the quickly approaching Deric.
Bryan Meredith came in as the Earthquakes’ goalkeeper for David Bingham in the 60th minute.
In the 65th minute, Corrado passed to Shaun Francis who passed to Fucito in front of the net again. Before Fucito could pull off a shot, however, Servando Carrasco came up from behind with a challenge.
On the same play going the other way, Omar Cummings leveled the score at one apiece. He was able to score from his left foot with the help of a deflected shot off San Jose.
Cummings nearly had another chance two minutes later, but the ball was offsides and wide.
An offsides call gave the Dynamo the ball back. Draft pick Mark Sherrod passed to trialist Sito Seoane who scored as his defender and Meredith collided in the 74th minute to give Houston the 2-1 lead.
Tony Cascio, on loan from the Colorado Rapids, scored the Dynamo’s third goal and put the game further out of reach in the 84th minute. As Meredith approached him, Cascio punched the ball the opposite way.
Game notes: The Earthquakes will travel to Fresno for their next preseason friendly, Saturday February 15 at 7p versus the LA Galaxy.
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