Sometimes the best recipe to break out of a slump is playing an emotional game against your rivals. FC Dallas was the perfect recipe for the Houston Dynamo.
After spotting the opposition the first goal for the 7th consecutive game the Houston Dynamo roared out of the locker room walking all over FC Dallas ultimately to get the win 2-1 behind goals from Ricardo Clark and Joseoph Ngwenya.
The game was made entertaining by some strange and bizarre plays but at the end of the day the Dynamo clearly were the better team yet almost ended up blowing their 2 goal lead.
*FC Dallas goal number one comes on a self-inflicted play as Ricardo Clark concedes possession trying to chest it back and Dallas catches a shock Dynamo defense with some quick combination play and Abe Thompson finishes.
Dallas clearly got nothing out of their strikers Ken Cooper and Abe Thompson for the second straight game. They couldn’t find their feet.
*Houston hits a post by Craig Waibel and are wondering what it will take to score.
Credit the Dynamo out of the locker room clearly outplaying Dallas leading two both goals.
Goal number one by Ricardo Clark comes after a Drew Moor mistake as Clark blasts it by Dario Sala, the next 15 or so minutes FC Dallas looks as though they are running in sand. The back line is in shambles and David Wagenfuhr is losing his legs as Mullan continues to torment him.
The second goal comes off Cory Ashe having his way in the FC Dallas midfield, they eventually put Joseoph Ngwenya in for his first goal. The Dallas balance and shape as a team was off, they defending too high at times helping the Dynamo discover the beauty of playing direct on occasion, now only if Ngwenya could lay off the last line of defense more.
Dominic Oduro came on and caused problems for Houston by Richard Mulrooney’s inexplicable back pass made Pat Onstad make the play of the game bringing down Arturo Alvarez , getting red carded and preventing a goal.
I expected more from Toya and company in midfield who were outplayed for most of the evening.
More random thoughts: Cooper wandered around aimlessly and misses Ruiz and his ability to hold it up. If you think this team can do it without a happy Carlos Ruiz you are fooling yourself.
*Mistakes from both teams made this an entertaining night.
*FC Dallas missed Chris Gbandi and Ruiz dearly.
*Houston desire on a 90+ degree day was impressive. Does FC Dallas have the character? I think it is still a question.
*No one took control of the game for FC Dallas, truly were without ideas and direction for large portions of the game.
*Where were the FC Dallas fans? I got emails that 150 fans were coming to Houston. Come on Dallas help make this a rivalry? Get off your couch and travel…….I was expecting to see more than 30 fans in red and white.
*Clark and Ching produced solid games before heading to Gold Cup*
*Ngwenya looked more agressive and showed a little more emotion.
*Craig Waibel showed veteran leadership and even helped to motivate the attack.
*FC Dallas is talented, young and naive at the back.
Enough of my thoughts, give me yours and that includes you also Dallas fans?
Glenn