FC DALLAS v HOUSTON DYNAMO
PIZZA HUT PARK, Frisco, Texas
5 p.m. CT (FSC/FSE)
June 30, 2007 (WEEK 13) / MLS Game #81
Winners of three of their last four, FC Dallas hopes they can finally find some magic against in-state rivals Houston Dynamo - who come in riding a five-game winning streak as the teams meet for the second time this season. In the battle for "El Capítan," the 19th-century cannon on offer to the winner of the season series, Dynamo have won four of the six meetings in all competitions all-time - but the Hoops haven't yet lost at their Pizza Hut Park home, with a win and a draw in last year's two league meetings. The teams met at the start of the June, with Houston claiming a 2-1 win.
REFEREE: Brian Hall. SAR (bench): Emiliano Monje; JAR (opposite): George Vergara; 4th: Jair Marrufo
MLS Career: 127 games; FC/gm: 28.9; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 33; pens: 37
Games involving FC Dallas: P29 W16 L8 T5; FC/gm: 27.8; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 6; pens: 12
Games involving Dynamo: P4 W2 L1 T1; FC/gm: 28.3; Y/gm: 2.8; R: 1; pens: 0
INJURY REPORT: FC DALLAS - OUT: FW Roberto Mina (knee); FW Kenny Cooper (R tibia); DOUBTFUL: DF Adrian Serioux (knee); QUESTIONABLE: DF Alex Yi (L hamstring) ... HOUSTON DYNAMO - OUT: FW Paul Dalglish (R ankle sprain); PROBABLE: DF Eddie Robinson (L hamstring strain); DF Wade Barrett (L hamstring strain)
SUSPENDED: DAL: Chris Gbandi (five cautions; through July 1)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: DAL: Clarence Goodson ... HOU: Eddie Robinson
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: DAL: Pablo Ricchetti, Carlos Ruiz, Alex Yi ... HOU: Ryan Cochrane; Dwayne De Rosario
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: DAL: Drew Moor (USA; Copa America); Dax McCarty, Anthony Wallace (USA; FIFA U-20 World Cup) ... HOU: Ricardo Clark (USA; Copa America)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (5 meetings): FC Dallas 1 win, 6 goals ... Dynamo 3 wins, 8 goals ... Draws 1
AT PIZZA HUT PARK (2 meetings): FC Dallas 1 win, 2 goals ... Dynamo 0 wins, 1 goal ... Draws 1
• This is the second of four meetings between the teams this season, the first of two set for Pizza Hut Park. The second encounter on the shores of the Buffalo Bayou is set for Aug. 19, with the series finale in Frisco on Sept. 30.
• The Lone Star State rivals are meeting for "El Capitan," as was named the 18th-century Mountain Howitzer cannon to be awarded to the winner of the season series. A year ago, Dynamo clinched ownership of the cannon with two victories in the four season meetings, FC Dallas winning once with the fourth a draw.
• In addition, Dynamo claimed a 3-0 victory in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup in a match played at the Carl Lewis Sports Complex at the University of Houston (Robinson 13; Moreno 57; Wondolowski 61)
• Coaches record: Steve Morrow vs. HOU: P1 W0 L1 D0 ... Dominic Kinnear v DAL: P5 W3 L1 D1
LAST MEETING (MLS):
6/3: HOU 2, DAL 1 (Clark 51; Ngwenya 67 - Thompson 30)
• Houston Dynamo put an end to a three-game losing streak and continued their dominance over their in-state rivals with a 2-1 on June 3 at Robertson Stadium.
• It was the Hoops that took the lead in the 30th minute, finishing off a great tic-tac-toe passing sequence. Abe Thompson started it, finding Kenny Cooper, who played to Dax McCarty, who slipped in Thompson who had completed his run, and the second-year forward rolled his shot under Houston 'keeper Pat Onstad.
• Yet Dynamo came storming back after the break. A poor clearance was intercepted by Brian Mullan and he found an unmarked Ricardo Clark in the area, who had plenty of time to turn and fire high inside the near post for the 51st-minute equalizer.
• Then in the 67th minute, Clark took a pass in the center circle and released Joseph Ngwenya, who raced away from the pulled-up FCD back line and stroked a curling shot around Dario Sala inside the right-hand post.
• There were tense moments for the home side after Onstad was sent off in the 78th minute when he took down FCD substitute Arturo Alvarez just outside the area after he raced in alone with an intercepted back pass. But Dynamo held on to remain perfect on their home ground against their Texas rivals, with four wins all-time in all competitions.
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-1-3-2): Pat Onstad - Craig Waibel, Ryan Cochrane, Eddie Robinson, Wade Barrett - Ricardo Clark - Brian Mullan, Richard Mulrooney, Brad Davis (Corey Ashe 62) - Joseph Ngwenya (Zach Wells 79), Brian Ching (Chris Wondolowski 88). Substitutes Not Used: Mike Chabala, Kelly Gray, Stuart Holden, Patrick Ianni
• Here's Morrow's team (4-3-1-2): Dario Sala - Drew Moor, Clarence Goodson (Bobby Rhine 31), Alex Yi, David Wagenfuhr - Dax McCarty, Pablo Ricchetti, Juan Toja - Ramon Nunez (Dominic Oduro 73) - Abe Thompson, Kenny Cooper (Arturo Alvarez 73). Substitutes Not Used: Shaka Hislop, Aaron Pitchkolan, Marcelo Saragosa, Blake Wagner
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas maintained their hold on the top spot in the Western Conference with a third victory in four matches, coming away from Dick's Sporting Goods Park with a 1-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids last weekend. FC Dallas still have the most points in MLS, 25 from their 15 matches, and lead the division by three points ahead of Dynamo.
LAST MATCH
• Colorado had seen their losing streak extended to three games the weekend before at Chivas USA, while FC Dallas had their two-game winning streak snapped in a comprehensive defeat by Toronto FC.
• A tame opening 45 minutes was punctuated by a fine save by FCD 'keeper Dario Sala to deny Herculez Gomez, then the Hoops took the lead just after the hour.
• A cross from the right found Carlos Ruiz, and he laid back for defender Clarence Goodson. Rapids 'keeper Bouna Coundoul saved Goodson's low blast, but the ball squirted away and Juan Toja came it to poke it home from nearly on the goal line. It was Toja's fourth goal of the season, and the third where it's provided the final margin of victory.
• Gomez had one final chance to save a point for Colorado in stoppage time but his half-volley from the top of the box whistled inches wide of the right post. The Rapids ended the game a man down after Ugo Ihemelu was sent off for a flying tackle on David Wagenfuhr near the touchline.
• FC Dallas boss Steve Morrow made two changes to the team that lost 4-0 to Toronto FC the previous Sunday in Canada. Pablo Ricchetti returned from suspension and came back in for Dax McCarty, who was away with the U.S. under-20 national team, while Carlos Ruiz returned to the starting lineup, coming in for Abe Thompson.
• Here's Morrow's team (4-2-1-3): Dario Sala - Drew Moor, Clarence Goodson, Alex Yi (Bobby Rhine 46), Chris Gbandi - Pablo Ricchetti, Marcelo Saragosa - Juan Toja - Dominic Oduro (Abe Thompson 61), Carlos Ruiz, Arturo Alvarez (David Wagenfuhr 85). Substitutes Not Used: Ray Burse, Michael Dello-Russo, Ramon Nunez, Aaron Pitchkolan
TEAM NEWS
• After the 4-0 drubbing in Toronto, FC Dallas looked to tighten things up in the back. The result was a second clean sheet in three games, after going 19 games without a shutout.
• I thought it was a good road performance from the team, we had a game plan going into the game of what we wanted to do. We wanted for everyone to get behind the ball and get compacted, and possess the ball well when we had it," Morrow said. "I feel like we did that very well throughout the game, we defended when we had to. Their best chances came in the second half from set plays. A lot of credit to our defense, they did a great job tonight."
• Said center back Clarence Goodson: "After an absolute crap effort in Toronto, we were determined to come out tonight. And we did a great job, we got the job done. I was very pleased with the effort throughout the 90 minutes."
• Morrow needed to make a change at halftime when Alex Yi was forced off with a hamstring injury. Thompson also came in for Dominic Oduro just after the hour after starting seven of the previous eight games.
• "At times in the game, we needed a little extra, the substitutions worked out well for the team, the guys who came off the bench deserve a lot of credit - they came in and did a really good job for the team when needed," Morrow said. "That's our philosophy, everyone contributes when needed. Credit goes to everyone who played tonight."
• The injury to Yi could add a real shuffle to Morrow's back line for the Dynamo match. Bobby Rhine came on for Yi in Commerce City, moving in at right back as Drew Moor moved centrally. But Moor will be out for at least the next two FCD matches after he was called into the U.S. team for Copa America.
• For the second time this season, left back Chris Gbandi will miss the match against Dynamo. The Houston native missed the first meeting at Robertson Stadium while on national team duty with Liberia; he will miss Saturday's game after receiving a fifth yellow card of the season against the Rapids.
• "It's pretty frustrating. If I had gotten a good yellow card, then I wouldn't be so upset. But the yellow card that I got was pretty disappointing - I was barely touching the guy," Gbandi said. "It's one of the games that I want to play in being from Houston. So, it's definitely disappointing but I know that the other guys will do their job against them."
• David Wagenfuhr should fit into Gbandi's spot on the left of the back four. But Steve Morrow could also have Adrian Serioux available for the first time. The Canadian international, who started in Dynamo's MLS Cup victory last year, underwent knee surgery shortly after arriving in Dallas via Toronto FC. Morrow said any decision regarding Serioux would come late in the week, but he has been upgraded to doubtful on the club's injury report.
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Houston Dynamo continued to roll along, extending their winning streak to five games - one of the longest ever in MLS - with a 1-0 victory against the Kansas City Wizards last Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Dynamo are now just three points out of the top spot in the West with 22 points from 13 matches, a victory away from catching FC Dallas with two games in hand, and five points ahead of third-place Chivas USA.
LAST MATCH
• The Wizards were returning home after a draw and a loss on a two-game road swing followed back-to-back wins, while Dynamo were riding high with a four-game winning streak that followed the low point of three consecutive losses.
• The Wizards controlled the opening half-hour, and twice Pat Onstad was called upon to make saves from Scott Sealy when he was all alone in front of the Houston goal.
• But the Dynamo defense held out and finally got the chance they were looking for in the 81st minute. Stuart Holden swung in a corner from the right and defender Patrick Ianni just stuck his head in front of Sasha Victorine to snap home his first career professional goal and give the Orange the victory.
• Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made one change to the team that defeated Chivas USA 4-0 on MLS Primetime Thursday three days earlier. Eddie Robinson was slowed by a hamstring injury, so Patrick Ianni made his first career MLS start in central defense.
• Here's Kinnear's team (4-1-3-2): Pat Onstad - Craig Waibel, Ryan Cochrane, Patrick Ianni, Wade Barrett - Richard Mulrooney - Stuart Holden, Kelly Gray, Brad Davis (Corey Ashe 67) - Brian Mullan (Chris Wondolowski 86), Joseph Ngwenya (Dwayne De Rosario 76). Substitutes Not Used: Mike Chabala, Nick Hatzke, Eddie Robinson, Zach Wells
• "I think the weather, having midweek games, Kansas City playing at Columbus and us on Thursday at home takes a little bit of life out of our legs. I think the sun also played a factor in the game, as it affected the pace. As the game wore on, I think the guys were fatigued," Kinnear said. "But I am happy because we came out with the win and we took our chance when it was given."
TEAM NEWS
• Pressed into duty when Eddie Robinson was held out because of the hamstring injury, Patrick Ianni made the most of his first MLS start. As a rookie, he made just two appearances totaling just two minutes, though had made three longer appearances in league play this year.
• "We tired them out as opposed to them wearing us out and dominating us in the first half. I know for me, I got my legs back in the second half. I think some guys were tired from the game on Thursday night, but during the second half we turned it around," Ianni said. "We were getting close on set pieces with Brad Davis, and he played some pretty good balls. Then I was fortunate enough to get on the end of one of Stuart Holden's balls. It was a great ball and then we defended for the remainder of the game."
• Even though Dwayne De Rosario was back from national team responsibilities, Kinnear maintained his central midfield partnership of Richard Mulrooney and Kelly Gray, and it once again held control over the match.
• "(Richard) Mulrooney started pushing forward, but it actually made it easier on us because we didn't have to worry about him," said goalkeeper Pat Onstad. "I thought our midfield took control of the game, Richard (Mulrooney) and Kelly (Gray) did a good job of keeping the ball forward."
• Dynamo will have three of their internationals for this week, as Brian Ching also returns from the U.S. national team. But Ricardo Clark has been called in for Copa America, which begins this week, meaning either Mulrooney or Gray (or both) will likely be called upon to remain in their roles.
• "I think it's fantastic (that he's playing in the Copa America). That, the World Cup, the European Championships and the Confederations Cup are the three or four top international soccer tournaments in the world," Kinnear said. "I hope he gets a start and a chance to play. It's a great honor. I think he showed how valuable he is on Sunday with his 45 minutes against Mexico."
• Said striker Joseph Ngwenya: "I think he deserves it. He shows day in and day out in the league that he's a solid defensive midfielder. If you watch the game against Mexico, he came on and did well. We're going to miss him and wish him the best. It's going to be a tough one in South America, but it's more experience that will help him when he gets back."
