By THOMAS FLOYD
The optimism surrounding Charlie Davies’ trial with D.C. United seems to increase by the day.
In a development that is sure to please U.S. national team and United supporters alike, Davies notched two goals and an assist during the Black and Red’s 4-0 win over the Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 national team Saturday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
A halftime substitute, Davies set up a Kurt Morsink tally with a cross in the 68th minute. He got on the scoresheet himself a minute later when he latched onto a Chris Pontius through ball and converted a near-post finish. Davies capped his performance with a shot into the upper-right corner in the 75th minute.
Joseph Ngwenya opened the scoring in the first half with his fourth goal in two preseason appearances.
Here is a roundup of the rest of Saturday’s preseason MLS action:
HOUSTON-FC DALLAS CLASH GETS HEATED
The Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas may no longer share the same division now that the former has joined the Eastern Conference, but there is still no love lost between the Texas rivals.
That much was evident during Houston’s 4-0 win over Dallas in Corpus Christi, Texas, during which Dallas left back Jair Benitez spat at Houston’s Geoff Cameron. The action prompted a scuffle that ended with Cameron and teammate Brian Ching needing to be separated from Benitez.
Benitez told the Houston Chronicle his actions were in retaliation after Cameron spat at him. The Dynamo defender-midfielder denied the accusation.
An own goal from Dallas’ Alexis Pardie opened the scoring, and Cameron nodded home a Brad Davis corner kick to double the advantage. Davis curled in a free kick to make it 3-0 before halftime, and a second-half penalty kick from Danny Cruz wrapped up the scoring.
RED BULLS DOWN ATLANTE RESERVES
Three days after getting a penalty-kick shootout triumph over Mexican club Atlante’s first team, the New York Red Bulls picked up a 3-1 win over a side comprised of Atlante’s reserve team and Under-20 squad in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Thierry Henry and Juan Agudelo combined for what Red Bulls fans hope will be the first of many times this year when Henry finished an Agudelo cross in the 30th minute.
Rookies took over for the Red Bulls in the second half, as homegrown signing Matt Kassel capitalized on a botched goalkeeper clearance to find net in the 80th minute, and first-round SuperDraft pick Corey Hertzog scored New York’s third five minutes later.
SEATTLE DEFEATS CHIVAS USA
Second-year midfielder David Estrada finished an assist from 19-year-old Miguel Montano in the 75th minute to give the Seattle Sounders a 1-0 win against Western Conference foe Chivas USA in Casa Grande, Ariz.
Memo Torres, the younger brother of U.S. national team midfielder Jose Francisco Torres, is on trial with Chivas and entered as a 60th-minute substitute.
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What do you think of Davies' performance? What else stood out for you from Saturday's results? Hope that Torres makes it with Chivas?
Share your thoughts below.