"Heineken Rivalry Week kicks off tonight with FC Dallas hosting the Houston Dynamo in the Texas Derby (8 pm ET, UniMás in US, MLS LIVE in Canada). And with one of the most hotly contested match-ups starting the proceedings, we asked a fan from each side to write in with why the rivalry means so much to them.
From a fan of FC Dallas...
"This rivalry was the first rivalry I knew about in soccer, other than the US vs. Mexico, at the international levels. I heard stories from a close friend who had joined the Dallas Beer Guardians. I liked FC Dallas, so naturally these rivalry matches were circled on my calendar as soon as the schedule dropped.
The rivalry among fans was bitter in the early days. There was even a very unpleasant experience at a Mexican restaurant after a US match where club supporters from each side ran into each other. All I can say is salsa was split, and my quesadilla was horrible.
I think now fans have mellowed a little and realize the true battle is on the pitch. Fast-forward to this past Texas Derby trip to Houston. I walked from my Aloft hotel, wearing my FC Dallas gear proudly as I past droves of Dynamo fans, but not the one said a word. I noticed several El Batallon supporters smoking outside the stadium. To my surprise again, they just nodded their heads.
The match was spirited as they all have been. Teams traded fouls and shots and the fans traded barbs as usual. I left the section at half time for a hotdog and beer. I found myself walking around the stadium. Next thing you know I’m standing right under the North End, where all the Dynamo supporters sit. The second half started and saw Dallas level. I didn’t move, just sipped my beer and smiled to myself. I thought to myself, in no way in past years could an FCD supporter get close to this area.
This all leads me to believe people are getting older and realizing you can have a fantastic passionate rivalry without confrontations. I found myself joking with the same people involved in the horrible Mexican restaurant incident, now wanting to meet up for dinner, drinks and laughs. I’ve even been asked to come back to Houston to be shown the town.
This is not to say for 90 minutes on Wednesday, I won’t be texting witty statements to my Houston friends. Because we all agree, we can be friends outside of those 90 minutes, but during those 90 mibutes, we aren’t friends. They could be a family member and I still would lob verbal volleys in their direction."
-- Colin Mall
...and from a Houston Dynamo fan
"Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas -- aka Frisco -- is the kind of travel-worthy game that's all about beating your rival to be the King of Texas, and then lay claim to El Capitan, a cannon that's the trophy of this match-up. Beating Frisco is always the objective, but Wednesday night's game has even more hanging on it than when the two teams played earlier this season, on May 28, to a 0-0 draw, and on June 21, to a 1-1 draw.
Dynamo fans will still be attending the game in force; it may just look a little different this time around. This is the first game back in Frisco since the sanctions against Dynamo SGs.
The Dynamo went into this past weekend first in the Western Conference, but after a loss to the Whitecaps they now sit in third place, while FC Dallas are in fifth place. The view from the top is good, with a tight Western Conference -- but it's a short fall from first to missing the playoffs. There are only seven points separating first place from seventh.
With little separation between teams failing to collect points against their rival could seriously affect Houston's playoff position. Getting back to the top of the West would be great and beating Dallas to get back to the top would make it all the sweeter."
-- Alicia Tolar
