The first year of the Honda SuperClasico between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA wasn't much of a rivalry, as the Green-and-Gold won all five matches - league and cup - against their stadium-mates in 2005.
Houston Dynamo's players and coaches are hoping the new Texas rivalry between themselves and FC Dallas will have a bit more tension. The battle for the Lone Star State starts Saturday in Houston.
The soon-to-be Dynamo-Hoops rivalry has one thing going for it already: history. Dynamo are an expansion club in name only, as nearly all of the team's players were imported from San Jose when the Earthquakes relocated this winter. So while Galaxy-Chivas may be a rivalry only in geographic terms, Dynamo-FC Dallas has ready-made tradition.
"I still think there is a bit of history there," said Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad. "Two years ago we clinched a playoff berth in Dallas by tying in the last game of the season. So there's still a little animosity, I think, from that game."
Last year, FC Dallas' first under their new name, the Hoops and Earthquakes played a spirited set of four matches. On May 14 they played to a scoreless draw as FCD and former Quakes midfielder Richard Mulrooney was lost for the season to a torn ACL. Then, on July 2, the Quakes twice came from behind to draw with the Hoops, despite playing a man down for nearly an hour.
Though the shirts have changed and those Earthquakes players are now wearing Dynamo orange, last year is fresh in the players' minds.
"I think we've always had a pretty good rivalry with Dallas to begin with, just because we've played them so often," Onstad said.
There's more at stake on Saturday than just bragging rights. Though it's still early in the season, the winner of this weekend's match will claim first place in the Western Conference. Dynamo currently sit two points behind the West-leading Hoops.
While Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear isn't one to get caught up in discussions about territorial battles, he's certainly got his eye on the standings.
"Whether it's the fifth game of the season or the 20th game of the season, you always want to have people behind you," Kinnear said. "That's your primary goal - to get as many points as possible and to try to be in first place. Dallas is in front of us right now, and our job is to try to catch them.
"I try to take [the rivalry talk] away and just try to break down to our team what Dallas' strengths and weaknesses are and how we're going to try to play against them," Kinnear said. "But if people want to build it up and that creates a good atmosphere ... I'm all for that because I think you definitely need storylines in sports."
There are plenty of storylines, such as a now-healthy Mulrooney potentially playing against his former teammates and FC Dallas players and Houston natives Chris Gbandi and Arturo Alvarez playing their first match in their hometown. On the other side, Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis will be up against his old mates.
Davis still keeps in close contact with Dallas defender Bobby Rhine and goalkeeper Jeff Cassar; the group had dinner together when Dynamo traveled to Dallas to play the Hoops in preseason this spring. Davis said Saturday's match means more to him than most.
"For me personally it's a rivalry," he said. "It's fun just to see the guys and be able to compete against them. They are still great friends, but this is my team now."
Hundreds of FC Dallas fans are expected to make the cross-state journey to the Bayou City for Saturday's match, and likewise, Dynamo fans are expected to travel to Dallas in droves for the rematch on May 13. According to Kinnear, that's what makes a good rivalry.
"I think the away support adds to the atmosphere," he said. "I think that's why we have rivalries like San Jose and L.A. You have good traveling support going to the other person's ground and showing through sound and flags and whatever else. I think that's awesome.
"I think it makes it more realistic for the fans and it makes the rivalry more realistic for the players when they see their fans in another person's ground."
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
