Back: Jauregui, Benitez, V. Morales, Arellano, Lewis, A. Hernandez; Front: Hurtado, Miranda, J. Morales, Acevedo, Chavez
May 3, 2008. A complete success was the first game of the Houston Leones at home against New Orleans Shell Shockers. With a 500 people attended approximately, the debut of Houston Leones at the PDL was a completely achievement. People from everywhere around Houston enjoyed of the music, food, taking pictures with our mascot, but above everything the debut of our team in home. Before the game started, a small ceremony took place when our president Mr. Juan C. Hernandez and the city mayor Jack Gurecky shake hands and mayor gave the inauguration kick to initiate the game.
The game initiated with both teams nervous at the expectative of how to each the opponent will play. Both teams had their opportunities to scored at the first half being Houston Leones who shot more to the goal protected by Sean Merfeld of New Orleans.
In the second half, Coach Ayala tried a more aggressive offensive, as our team was dominating and possessing more the ball, the lack of someone to control and distribute in the mid field made him to decided substituted Victor Morales #13 for Erick Dominguez #20 and Angel Hernandez# 17 for Carlos German. This strategy worked very well that at the minute 68’, Carlos German with a pass of Erick Dominguez scored the first goal of the game. Four minutes later at minute 72’, Juan Carlos Morales #11 again with pass of Dominguez scored the second with a shot out of the penalty area that the goalkeeper Merfeld could not able to stop. By this time, the coach Farrell of New Orleans Shell Shockers did not know to stop and react against the attacks of Houston Leones. Finally, at minute 84’, coach Ayala substituted Juan Carlos Morales for Otto Valdez #22 and one minute later, he scored the third and last thrust in the forehead of the New Orleans Shell Shockers. Almost at the end of the game, Antonio Chavez # 9 and the goalkeeper Vladimir Jauregui # 23 were substituted by Efrain Orozco at minute 86’ and our vice-president and goalkeeper Juan C. Hernandez Jr. # 1 at minute 88’. Even though more goals could be scored, finally the scored was 3-0 in favor of Houston Leones.
Roaster
HoustonLeones: Vladimir Jáuregui (Juan C. Hernández 88’), Fernando Benítez, Matthew Lewis, Manuel Arellano, Juan C. Morales (Otto Valdez 84’), Ángel Hernández, Antonio Chávez (Efraín Orozco 86’) Miguel Hurtado, José A. Miranda, Erick Acevedo, Víctor Morales (Erick Domínguez 67’)
Goals: German (68’), J. Morales (72’), Valdez (85’)
Referee: Rodolfo Nino
