The Houston Dynamo were defeated 2-1 by Valencia CF in the fourth edition of the BBVA Compass Dynamo Charities Cup on Thursday night in the first-ever match between the Dynamo and a club from Spain. In a very entertaining friendly, all three goals were scored within the first 17 minutes, with Valencia forward Aritz Aduriz scoring two goals and Dynamo midfielder delivering a sensational left-footed strike into the upper corner for a short-lived equalizer.
The Dynamo received their fourth consecutive sellout crowd (22,039) since opening BBVA Compass Stadium on May 12.
The brace capped off a successful trip for Aduriz, who scored the lone goal in Valencias 1-0 win at the Portland Timbers on May 23 in the Spanish clubs other stop on its American tour.
Aduriz opened the scoring after one minute, receiving a pass from Pablo in behind the Dynamo back line before taking a shot that deflected off Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Derics leg before rolling slowly over the goal line for a 1-0 lead.
On 14 minutes Carr delivered a world-class equalizer. The midfielder received the ball on the far touchline 30 yards from goal and dribbled in between several Valencia defenders before unleashing a blistering left-footed shot from the top of the box that whistled into the far upper corner.
Three minutes later Valencia seized the lead again as Pablo Piatti found space near the left corner and delivered a quality ball to the top of the box where Aduriz took a touch before his simple finish hit the side of the net for a 2-1 Valencia advantage.
Brad Davis came close for the Dynamo in the 23rd minute. The midfielder received a precise ball from Luiz Camargo on the left side of the penalty area and took a first-time shot that missed the far post by less than a foot.
Houston pushed until the end for the tying goal but was denied as the Valencia defense and goalkeeper Vicente Guaita thwarted several attempts in stoppage time.
The Dynamo have nine days without a game before resuming MLS play on Sunday, June 10 against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The match will begin at 6 p.m. CT from BC Place in Vancouver and can be viewed on Fox Sports Houston and Multimedios.
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