For the third time this season, FC Dallas played to a draw with the Houston Dynamo. But the 1-1 tie on MLS Primetime Thursday at Robertson Stadium meant the Hoops left south Texas as winners.
The 1-1 result gave the Hoops the right to claim "El Capitan," the 18th-century cannon that goes to the winner of the season series between the intrastate rivals. FC Dallas won the season series by tiebreaker on the strength of a 4-2 advantage in goals away from home.
Despite the even result, new FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman felt his team came out ahead.
"The guys in this locker room feel that they came away feeling like they accomplished something," Hyndman said. "Tying this team, which won the last two MLS titles, three times this season, tells you how this team is built mentally."
The tie came after a strong offensive showing in the second half, when Hyndman made an adjustment from the 4-4-2 he wants to install to the 3-5-2 FC Dallas had been using earlier in the season.
"I thought the Dynamo did a very good job in the first half," Hyndman said. "We were in a flat back four system and we were having trouble with Brad Davis coming into the center unmarked and we knew that they would be very strong on the services."
"[In the] second half, we went into a 3-5-2 and saw a different Dallas team that came out more aggressive and held the ball a little better."
That attacking thrust led to forward Kenny Cooper's game-tying goal in the 62nd minute, assisted by midfielder Juan Toja.
"We made a tactical change at halftime," Cooper said, "Schellas saw the changes in the first half and told us to be more assertive, we were fortunate to have Juan make some quality moves in order for me to be in position to score."
"Our goal was Juan Toja going up the left side where he was able to keep possession, beat a couple of players, serve a great goal and Kenny Cooper scored a great header and put us into the 1-1 game," Hyndman said. "We were happy to come away with a point."
That point moves FC Dallas into a tie for fourth place in the extremely tight race for the Western Conference title. The Hoops and Chivas USA are tied in fourth place with 17 points, and are only two points behind the Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake, who are tied for second. The LA Galaxy lead the conference with 21 points.
"We knew this was going to be a 90-plus-minute battle tonight, with them being the league champs," Cooper said. "We just needed to keep our composure coming out in the second half."
Over the three-year history of the Dynamo, FC Dallas still has not claimed a victory in Houston. But Thursday's result came awfully close to one.
"[We were] down 1-0 on the road, we're just happy to come away with a 1-1 tie and I think we were happy with the season series," Hyndman said.
Lucas Ogden-Davis is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
