Heading into Saturday night's game with Houston, the FC Dallas lead in the MLS Western Conference was just six points over their in-state rival. With the Hoops winless against Dynamo thus far this year, not only did FCD want to finally beat their rival, but they also wanted to put some distance between themselves and Dynamo in the West table.
They accomplished both goals on Saturday, winning 1-0 at Pizza Hut Park. It was a game that saw the visitors go a man down in the 31st minute when Dynamo defender Eddie Robinson received a red card.
FCD midfielder Arturo Alvarez, a Houston native, scored in the 86th minute, beating Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad near post to make it 1-0 and that was all the scoring the hosts needed.
"It was a tough game," said FCD head coach Colin Clarke. "I thought they were good, they played well. They had their opportunities. We came out a little flat and were slow to move the ball. We kept our patience and ended up getting the goal."
Dynamo hit the field with their guns blazing. In the sixth minute, they got a great opportunity after a Brad Davis corner kick which landed in front of the Hoops net deflected to Adrian Serioux, but his shot sailed high.
Then, in the 20th minute, Dynamo all-star midfielder Dwayne De Rosario fired the first of his team-leading three shots in the first half. His effort went wide right as did his effort in the 24th minute. His shot off a corner in the 25th went high.
Clarke was impressed with De Rosario's presence the entire evening.
"He's a good player," he said. "There are four teams that stand out in the league and they're one of them. He's tough to contain. He plays 90 minutes, works up and down and has a great engine. He gets from one end of the field to another and is great at taking people on. He's playing with a lot of confidence. He had a couple of glimpses tonight. But for the most part we kept him quiet."
Robinson left the field in the 31st minute after a blow to the face of FCD forward Carlos Ruiz saw him receive a red card. The rugged defender had been booked for shoving Ruiz near the Dynamo goal in the 30th minute following a Ronnie O'Brien blast that sailed just to the right of the goalmouth.
The Hoops had their chances over the remainder of the first half, then came closest in the in the 79th minute when Kenny Cooper streaked up the left side of the field only to see his blistering shot hit the post. But they couldn't find the breakthrough.
"We're a man up. Everyone expects you to win but it's never that easy. We still have to fight, do the right things -- keep the ball moving, keep it from side to side and try to spread them as much as possible," Clarke said. "You also have to be careful that you don't get caught going the other way. I thought we had a good balance tonight."
Finally, in the 86th minute, Alvarez struck pay dirt. After a great feed from Abe Thompson, he dashed up the left side and got inside of Serioux. He then put the ball just inside the far post and just out on Onstad's reach to make it 1-0.
"It was the fourth game, they've beaten us in the last three and it just feels good to know we can beat them," Alvarez said. "It was a good thing to get a win coming home off a big road trip. Coming home and getting three points is a good thing."
The victory also moved FC Dallas nine points ahead of their in-state rivals in the Western Conference with seven matches remaining in the regular season -- and they have a game in hand.
"I think we always think (we can win) heading into any game no matter who we're playing," he said. "This was a big game for us and there was a lot of pride at stake. It was important to our fans and to us as well. It had a playoff atmosphere. Hopefully we will meet again in the playoffs."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
