To put it simply, FC Dallas had their struggles last season against eventual MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo. The Hoops' first win against their in-state rival didn't come until the fifth match of the year between the sides as FCD got a 1-0 win on Sept. 2, 2006 at Pizza Hut Park with Houston playing a man down.
Before that, the teams started their rivalry with meetings on back-to-back weekends in May; FCD spotted Dynamo a three-goal lead in the first match, then stormed back to tie the game only to lose 4-3, and the clubs played to a 1-1 draw their next time out. Then the teams met 12 days apart in August, Dynamo winning 1-0 in league play and 3-0 in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.
In their final meeting, in Frisco, defender Eddie Robinson was sent off in the 31st after getting two yellow cards in a minute, but FCD was unable to convert until Houston native Arturo Alvarez netted the game-winner against his hometown side in the 86th minute.
FCD head coach Steve Morrow is well aware of his team's struggles a year ago against Dynamo, but is ready to put all of that in the rearview mirror.
"They (Houston) have (been up and down this year)," Morrow said. "It's an interesting time to play them. They've obviously had a rough start and are going to be looking for a reaction and trying hard to get a result. I think it's going to be a battle and a big fight. We have to be up for that mentally."
The FCD boss and his team know to expect one thing when playing Houston - a physical match.
"They're always going to be dangerous," Morrow said. "Every time we go down there, it's a tough and aggressive game. They've gotten the better of us in the last year but I think we're ready to turn that around."
Both sides come off disappointing road losses last Saturday. FCD fell 2-0 to Chivas USA, while Houston traveled to D.C. United and left the nation's capital with a 2-1 loss.
"This year, we have played well as a team but haven't done the little things to be as consistent as we should be. I think we need to get more chances on goal. That's what we're working on. Once we get them, we need to put them away," said Ramon Nunez. "It's going to be a tough game. It's always a tough game when you play Houston. I think we're working on the problems we had in the Chivas game (on Saturday) and hopefully, we can correct them."
FCD will be without one of its top offensive players in captain and forward Carlos Ruiz, who is with the Guatemalan national team as they prepare for the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which starts next week.
Ruiz isn't the only regular absent for FCD. Also unavailable will be Houston native and starting left back Chris Gbandi, who is playing for the Liberian national team against Cameroon in an African Nations Cup qualifier.
Houston will be missing top players of its own. Midfielder Dwayne De Rosario has already joined the Canadian national team in preparation for the Gold Cup, while also out will be forward Paul Dalglish, who has a sprained ankle. As well, Sunday's match will be a sendoff for both Houston forward Brian Ching and midfielder Ricardo Clark before they join the United States national team for the Gold Cup.
The Orange come in having dropped five of their last six matches and having netted just five goals so far this season. Morrow clearly wants to add to Houston's struggles.
"When teams are going through those stages and spells where they aren't playing well, they can maybe suffer from a lack of confidence," Morrow said. "I want us to get all over them early in the game and try to exploit that a little bit."
No matter what starting 11 Morrow employs on Sunday, expect every member of FCD to be up for this rivalry match.
"It seemed like they got the better of us last year," said midfielder Dax McCarty. "They're the same exact team. This is an important rivalry for us both on and off the field. They are going to come out strong and wanting to win in front of their home fans. It's going to be a tough game. It will be my first rivalry game. I think we will come in with the right mentality and looking to win."
Cooper echoed McCarty's sentiment. "They play with a lot of passion," he said. "They are the defending champions and have a lot of good players down there. I'm expecting a tough game. Coming off the loss, it's a big opportunity for us to put things right."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
