Houston Dynamo at FC Dallas: Highlights, stats, and quotes
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo earned a point on the road in the first Texas Derby of 2023. Thor Ulfarsson scored late for Houston to pull a goal back after Dallas scored early in the second half.
MATCH SUMMARY
FC Dallas 1 – 1 Houston Dynamo FC
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Venue: Toyota Stadium - Frisco, Texas
Referee: Victor Rivas
Assistants: Michael Barwegen, Eduardo Jeff
Fourth Official: Alyssa Nichols
VAR: Jair Marrufo
Attendance: 19,096
Weather: 73 degrees, mostly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
DAL: Jáder Obrian (unassisted) 53’
HOU: Thor Úlfarsson (Héctor Herrera) 85’
DISCIPLINE SUMMARY
HOU: Chase Gasper (caution; foul) 25’
HOU: Franco Escobar (caution; foul) 90+2’
LINEUPS & STATS
FC Dallas: Jimmy Maurer; Marco Farfan, Sebastien Ibeagha, Nkosi Tafari, Ema Twumasi, Facundo Quignon; Paxton Pomykal (Jesús Jiménez 89’), Tsiki Ntsabeleng (Edwin Cerrillo 71’); Alan Velasco (Sam Junqua 83’), Jáder Obrian, Jesús Ferreira (c)
Unused Substitutes: Michael Webber, José Antonio Martínez, Amet Korça, Herbert Endeley, Nolan Norris, Bernard Kamungo
Total shots: 10 (Jáder Obrian and Jesús Ferreira tied with 3)
Shots on goal: 5 (Facundo Quignon 2)
Fouls: 11 (Paxton Pomykal 3)
Offside: 1 (Sebastien Ibeagha 1)
Corner kicks: 5
Saves: 1 (Jimmy Maurer 1)
Houston Dynamo FC: Steve Clark; Chase Gasper (Brad Smith 74’), Micael, Ethan Bartlow, Franco Escobar; Héctor Herrera (c), Artur, Adalberto Carrasquilla (Iván Franco 85’); Amine Bassi (Corey Baird 74’), Sebastián Ferreira (Thorleifur Úlfarsson 56’), Aliyu Ibrahim (Nelson Quiñónes 56’)
Unused substitutes: Andrew Tarbell, Mujeeb Murana, Griffin Dorsey, Luís Caicedo
Total shots: 8 (Micael and Thor Úlfarsson tied with 2)
Shots on goal: 2 (Aliyu Ibrahim and Thor Úlfarsson tied with 1)
Fouls: 15 (Adalberto Carrasquilla 4)
Offside: 1 (Héctor Herrera 1)
Corner kicks: 7
Saves: 3 (Steve Clark 3)
HOUSTON DYNAMO HEAD COACH BEN OLSEN
On the game:
“I’m really happy with the point. I didn't think things went our way, and there were a lot of adjustments for us structurally and how we were going about the game. They get the goal on a set piece that we just don't do very well on. That’s an understatement. Then for them to grind, and the subs came on and gave us really good energy. (FW) Thor (Úlfarsson) came on and caused real havoc and then gets rewarded with the goal. Overall, I’m pleased with the point.”
On FW Thor Úlfarsson’s performance:
“He is fairly well rounded. What we like about him is he can score. He's been scoring since last year. He's got some goals in college. He's a guy who has the right foot and left foot. His aerial duels are in the box, and he’s pretty lively. He’s a scorer and the more he comes on and even the limited minutes that he's gotten, he's gotten looks. When he hits them, they're on frame, and he makes the goalkeepers make saves. He keeps doing it. He’s been down the pecking order, and he keeps creeping up. I know it's not been an easy road for him. I think he's been really frustrated with his time, and I think he he's deserved more. The best way to show a coach that you need to be on the field is to score goals, especially when we've been struggling in that department.”
On his interaction with FW Sebastian Ferreira:
“It’s okay. I'm an emotional guy. He's an emotional guy. We hug it out afterwards. It's all good. You know, I like players with passion. Players want to be on the field. Players don't like getting subbed. I didn't like getting subbed. You do it in right way. We’ll have a chat, and we'll move on from it.”
On the traveling Dynamo fans at the match:
“It was great. We talked about it before. It was nice for them to at least go home with something. It was important. I hope they felt the love from the team and the staff. We’re appreciative of them coming out, and I don't think they really know what that means and what type of energy that gives us to go into a tough place to play and to have some Dynamo fans up there screaming in the orange. It was just nice to see them out there. There was a lot of them. A lot more than I thought were going to show up. So, it's a really good turnout and we appreciate it.”
HOUSTON DYNAMO FORWARD THOR ÚLFARSSON
On his recent goals:
“Just obviously happy. Goals are what I live for as a striker. It gives me confidence and gives me extra energy during training and the next few games. It’s what I aim for every day to help the team. Every game we go into, I want to score. So, it's been good.”
On earning more minutes this season:
“I mean I'd be lying if I didn't say it has been frustrating for me. I’ve probably been playing less than last year, which has been frustrating for me. But if I just prove myself on the pitch and if I come in like I did today with a lot of energy -- I created a few chances, was on the end of a few chances and scored a goal. So, if I just continue to play like that, I know I'll play more minutes. I just have to prove myself pretty much.”
On what derby games bring out of the team:
“There’s obviously a lot more energy than normal. You want to beat your rival, and we have two rivals here in Texas. So yeah, just more energy and you are more hyped up for the game.”
On the traveling Dynamo fans at the match:
“We had a great fan base here today. They made a lot of noise. They made more noise than the home fans, actually. It was crazy for us on the bench. We were talking about it on the bench. It was just great to see, and it motivates you even more to do good for the team.”
