FC Dallas entered Saturday night's match with Houston looking to halt their in-state rival's five-game winning streak and also to register a second consecutive win against Dynamo at Pizza Hut Park. FCD achieved one half of those aims as the teams played to a scoreless draw, a result that keeps FCD unbeaten against Dynamo in three matches in Frisco (1-0-2).
Even though the Hoops outshot the reigning MLS Cup champs 14-8, Saturday's match was best summed up by one phrase -- lack of flow. Neither side ever got on track and both backlines did a great job of containing their offensive counterparts.
That latter feat was especially impressive considering that FCD fielded a back four consisting of three new starters. Only center back Clarence Goodson, who arguably has been the Hoops' top defender all year, was a holdover on a line that featured Bobby Rhine on the right, David Wagenfuhr on the left and Aaron Pitchkolan in the middle.
"I'm pleased with the team effort, the work and commitment," said FCD head coach Steve Morrow after the game. "I thought we were the better team over 90 minutes. We looked a little more threatening throughout the game and as the team more likely to score a goal.
"It was a tight game with two good teams going at it. I'm pleased with the clean sheet but the boys are disappointed with not getting three points. We're a little disappointed."
He also was quick to commend Dynamo on a great effort.
"They're a good side, we all know that. They work very hard and make it difficult to play against them. I thought we coped with that well today," Morrow said. "We knew going into the game that we had to give 100 percent commitment and outwork them, which I thought we did over the 90 minutes. That aspect certainly pleased me."
The FCD boss was quick to commend Pitchkolan on his play at center back, a position where he hasn't seen game action since his senior year at West Virginia.
"He did well and I was very pleased with him. He's only played there a couple of times," Morrow said.
"Credit to all the back four today -- I want to give them a lot of credit. That was a new look for us back there today and those guys haven't played together. I thought they did a great job throughout the game. They coped with (Brian) Ching, (Joseph) Ngwenya, (Brian) Mullan and (Brad) Davis."
He was also quick to heap praise on his front line of Arturo Alvarez, Dominic Oduro and Carlos Ruiz, who accounted for 10 of FCD's 14 shots on the day.
"I thought they did well and all three of them looked dangerous throughout the game," Morrow said. "Dominic (Oduro) got tired toward the end and that's why we brought Abe (Thompson) on. Arturo (Alvarez) looked dangerous throughout the course of the game. Carlos (Ruiz) had a couple of half chances and one of them could have easily gone in. We created quite a bit up top and I am disappointed that one didn't fall for us."
The overwhelming sentiment after the game in the FCD locker room was about how the game was characterized by a complete lack of flow.
"Being on the field, it was a battle," Alvarez said. "It was a tough game. Both teams didn't have a lot of time on the ball and did a great job of pressuring the ball. It was a game where neither team got any rhythm going."
Added Thompson: "It was kind of choppy and disjointed. Both defenses played solid and snuffed out any chances. Neither team really created any chances that made the defenses work very hard. We'll take the point and head to the next game."
Pitchkolan said that while it's frustrating not to find the back of the net, the tight match was to be expected given the combatants.
"You had two teams who like to battle. It is a rivalry and the two teams really don't like each other that much. We play each other quite a bit, so that adds to it," Pitchkolan said. "It's tough when both teams play good defense and have a good shape. I think they found the same thing against us that we did against them. It was just as hard to get behind them and tough to create chances today."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
