Houston Dynamo FC downs El Salvador 2-1 in friendly matchup

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 19, 2025) Houston Dynamo FC earned a 2-1 victory over the El Salvador National Team in a friendly match at Shell Energy Stadium on Wednesday evening. This was the first time Houston played against a national team, and they made the night memorable with a solid win.

El Salvador got off to a fast start, scoring in just the fifth minute, when Jairo Ferrurino curled a right-footed shot from outside the box to give his team an early lead. But Houston responded quickly. Just one minute later, midfielder Diego Gonzalez controlled the ball off his chest and fired a powerful volley into the top right corner of the net, tying the game at 1-1.

The game remained even until the 74th minute when Houston took the lead. Midfielder Nico Lodeiro sent a set-piece cross from near the right corner flag, which deflected off an El Salvador defender. The ball landed in front of defender Franco Escobar, who finished the play with a header to score the winning goal.

The match also featured several Dynamo debuts, including Felipe Andrade, Exon Arzú, Andy Batioja, Michael Halliday, Júnior Urso, and Gonzalez. Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer made his first start for Houston as well.

The Dynamo will now shift their focus back to MLS play as they travel to face the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, March 22.

El Salvador, Jamaica battle to scoreless draw in CONCACAF Gold Cup

El Salvador midfielder Darwin Ceren (7), who
plays in the MLS for the Houston Dynamo,
moves the ball past Jamaican defender
Damion Lowe at BBVA Stadium.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyrightr 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 21, 2019) In front of a highly partisan El Salvador crowd, No. 69 La Selectra battled No. 54 Jamaica to a scoreless draw in Group D action of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup at BBVA Stadium in Houston. The draw gives both squad a 1-0-1 record, with four points in group standings.

The first half was evenly matched, with both squads pushing back-and-forth trying to locate a weakness in the others defense, without much success. Two events brought the El Salvador fans to their feet, in the 10th and 42nd minutes. Defender Roberto Dominguez was issued a yellow card early in the game. Just prior to the half, midfielder Darwin Ceren was also yellow carded. The first half ended with neither team able to get the ball into the goal.

The second half saw much of the same play, with four yellow cards being issued. The Reggae Boyz received three; with forwards Dever Orgill and Junior Flemmings being carded in the 48th and 60th minute, respectively. Defender Damoin Love added the third yellow card for Jamaica in the 85th minute. Defender Jonathan Jimenez received the final yellow card of the match, for El Salvador, in the 90th minute.

Previously, on June 17 at Kingston Jamaica's National Stadium, Jamaica downed Honduras 3-2 while Curacao fell to El Salvador 1-0. On Tuesday, June 25, at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, Jamaica will face Curacao with Honduras facing El Salvador to close out group action.

Jamaica, El Salvador battle to one-all draw; both advance to knockout stage of Gold Cup

Nelson Bonilla (#9) reacts to scoring the first goal for
El Salvador in thier win over Jamaica in the 2017 Gold Cup.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2017 TexSport Publications

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (July 16, 2017)  Jamaica and El Salvador battled to a one-all draw in the final game for both teams in Group C action of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Sunday, July 16, 2017. The Reggae Boyz finish the group stage of the tournament in second place with a 1-0-2 record (5 points). Los Cuscatlecos finished with four points and a 1-1-1 record. Both teams will advance to the knockout stage of the tournament, with El Salvador having the best record of third place teams.

El Salvador found pay dirt in the 15th minute with a solid shot from forward Nelson Bonilla. It was his second goal of the tournament, having scored in the 10th minute in La Selecta's 3-1 loss to Mexico on July 9. As a result of his score and play, he was selected the Man of the Match.

Jamaica had a chance to even the score in the 45th minute when midfielder Ewan Grandison came rushing down the right side and drilled a shot from the edge of the penalty area, which was deflected by goalkeeper Derby Carillo. After one minute of added time, both teams headed to the locker room at half time with El Salvador leading 1-0. The Reggae Boyz finally did even the score in the 64th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick. Forward Darren Mattocks nailed the shot to tie the score. With the score, Mattocks, who plays professionally for the Portland Timbers, became Jamaica's all-time top score in the Gold Cup. He made his debut in Jamaica's 2-0 win over El Salvador on August 15, 2012.

Two yellow cards were issued in the match; the first to Jamaica's Romario Williams in the 47th minute and the second to El Salvador's Narciso Orellana in the 63rd minute. The Reggae Boys pushed their overall Gold Cup record to 14 wins, 17 loses, and seven draws. La Selecta overall record is eight wins, 16 loses, and seven draws.