Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas | MLS Match Preview

MLSsoccer staff

HOUSTON DYNAMO vs FC DALLAS
BBVA COMPASS STADIUM, Houston, Texas
March 12, 2016 (WEEK 2, MLS Game #18)
8:30 p.m. ET (MLS LIVE)

The tussle for El Capitan is renewed when the Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas meet for the first time this season in the Texas Derby on Saturday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium. Both teams came away with points from their season openers. The Dynamo nearly had the full three points, before the New England Revolution struck back with a late equalizer for a 3-3 draw. FC Dallas opened their season in fine form, strolling to a 2-0 win against Philadelphia Union.

FC Dallas have won the last five meetings between the teams, over the last three seasons. FCD has won the last two meetings at BBVA Compass Stadium, just their second and third wins all-time in Houston in 14 meetings in all competitions, the first since 2010.
FCD has won three games in a row in Frisco, the last Dynamo victory there coming in 2011.
The clubs play for 'El Capitan', the 19th-century Mountain Howitzer cannon to be awarded to the winner of the season series by supporters groups for both clubs. Last year was the first season since 2011 the teams met more than once in the regular season, with both back in the Western Conference.

REFEREE: Jorge Gonzalez. AR1 (bench): Jeff Muschik; AR2 (opposite): Matthew Nelson; 4th: Younes Marrakchi
MLS Career: 126 games; FC/gm: 25.3; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 39; pens: 31

SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (24 meetings): Dynamo 9 wins, 33 goals … FC Dallas 8 wins, 36 goals … Ties 7
AT HOUSTON (12 meetings): Dynamo 6 wins, 19 goals … FC Dallas 3 wins, 20 goals … Ties 3
RETURN MATCHES: 6/2: FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo, 8 p.m. CT; 8/27: Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas, 8 p.m. CT

LAST YEAR (MLS):
5/1: HOU 1, DAL 4 (Barnes 32 - Hollingshead 9; Texeira 21; Diaz 52; Castillo 55)
6/26: DAL 2, HOU 0 (own goal 33; Castillo 42)
10/4: DAL 4, HOU 1 (Diaz 25; Texeira 51, 93+; Acosta 53 - Clark 36)