HOUSTON – Andrew Driver and Giles Barnes scored to help the Houston Dynamo beat English Premier League club Stoke City 2-0 on Wednesday night in an exhibition game.
Driver opened the scoring in the 11th minute, sending a free kick from 25 yards out right of the middle inside the far post. Barnes scored in the 88th minute, taking a pass from Corey Ashe in the left box and sending a shot along the end line from outside the left goalkeeper's box and inside the near post.
Stoke City was playing its first game under new manager Mark Hughes. Stoke City will play FC Dallas on Saturday night, and face end its three-game tour against the Philadelphia Union on Tuesday night.
Cam Weaver had a line drive from the right box in the 23rd minute stopped with a leg save by Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. Jason Johnson let one go from inside the upper box in the 33rd minute, but Begovic made a diving save to keep it 1-0.
Kenwyne Jones had Stoke City's best opportunity in the 64th minute, but Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric made a diving save on Jones' shot from outside the upper box.
Barnes nearly upped the lead to 2-0 in the 69th minute, but his right-footed one-timer from 10 yards out on the right box just missed the far post.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.