Kandji’s Dynamo defeat Academy in preseason scrimmage
- Wednesday, 22 February 2012
- Written by Modou Lamin Beyai
The Houston Dynamo of Gambia-hopeful Macoumba Kandji cruised to a 9-0 win over the Dynamo Academy Monday morning at the Houston Amateur Sports Park.
Cam Weaver led the way with two goals and seven other players added a goal apiece for the Dynamo in the scrimmage win. Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear’s lineup featured ten returning players in the starting lineup, including Brian Ching, who wore the Dynamo game jersey for the first time since being reacquired from the Montreal Impact on Thursday.
Kandji’s Houston began the scoring in the seventh minute when Geoff Cameron sent a ball from the Dynamo half of the field behind the Academy defense to Will Bruin, who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Leopoldo Castillo for a 1-0 lead.
The first team doubled its lead two minutes later when Alex Dixon corralled a loose ball in the box, used a touch to create space, and then fired past Castillo. In the 41st minute, Ching found Colin Clark with space on the left side of the penalty area and Clark used a clever chip over Castillo for the third goal of the half.
The Dynamo would break the game open in the second half. Newly acquired striker Macoumba Kandji beat an Academy defender before delivering a pass to Brazilian trialist Emerson Sato just outside the penalty area. Sato’s strike from 20 yards beat Castillo to lengthen the lead to 4-0.Weaver added two goals in a span of three minutes early in the second half.
His first came in the 54th minute off a pass from the right flank from Supplemental draft pick Brian Ownby. Weaver received the ball with his back to the goal, turned quickly, and then buried his shot from 10 yards.
Minutes later, Weaver headed home a corner kick from Josue Soto to extend the advantage to 6-0. Brian Ownby, Colin Rolfe and Macoumba Kandji added second-halfs goals to seal the victory for the first team.
Macoumba Kandji and his Dynamo continue the preseason on Friday when they face Sporting Kansas City in the Disney Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando, Fla.