Throwback Thursday: Dynamo put 5 past FC Dallas
(image via Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)
The Houston Dynamo open their historic 20th season at home this weekend against our favorite team in Texas, FC Dallas. While the Dynamo have had their ups and downs against Dallas throughout the years, let's take a look back at their biggest victory over FCD back on March 12, 2016.
Background
Coming into 2016, the Dynamo had some big expectations following a blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia Union (sound familiar?) to acquire Cristian Maidana and Andrew Wenger. Maidana was one of the trendy DP attacking midfielders from Argentina who were taking MLS by storm. He led MLS in assists in 2015 and it came as a big shock to Union fans when he was traded. This was also Owen Coyle’s second season as head coach of the Houston Dynamo, a time when pressure starts to build on head coaches who have yet to find success.
Dallas were coming off their best ever regular season in 2015, topping the Western Conference, backed by the brilliance of Mauro Diaz, Matt Hedges, and Fabian Castillo. They then added Maxi Urutti (every Dynamo fan’s favorite), Mauro Rosales, Carlos Gruezo, and Maynor Figueroa to an already stacked squad. The breakouts for future USMNT regulars Kellyn Acosta and Walker Zimmerman also came at the end of 2015, adding further expectations to their 2016 campaign.
Lineups
First Half
The game kicked off with the Dynamo asserting heavy pressure right off the bat. Just six minutes into the match, the Dynamo won a free kick where Giles Barnes sent the ball into the wall. It rebounded to Ricardo Clark, who played it out wide for Andrew Wegner and played in a perfect cross to David Horst to open the scoring. This was the exact type of play that the Dynamo found their limited success in under Owen Coyle, with big bodies like Horst and Will Bruin in the box. Just minutes later, Barnes got in behind and lost out to Atiba Harris, who let the ball go for Matt Hedges to clear. Hedges then decided to pass the ball in his own net in what is one of the most bizarre own goals you will ever see. It looked as if Hedges was trying to lose. This huge gift set the stage for what would become a route for the Houston Dynamo. Not even ten minutes later, the ball bounced around in the box and fell to Andrew Wenger who played it across to Ricardo Clark to bang in the third goal for the Dynamo. They were not done yet, when just five minutes later, Wenger picked up the ball in behind and made it 4-0 for the Dynamo. This was and still is the most goals the Dynamo have scored in a half in MLS. It could be a record that stands for quite some time as well.
Second Half
The second half began with Dallas just playing to stop the embarrassment. The Dynamo took their foot off the gas, subbing out Maidana for a young Leo Miranda who was a fan favorite towards the end of the 2015 season. Not a whole lot of action happened in the second half until late in the game. In the 85th minute, Miranda won the ball off the press and took it past two defenders to link up with Bruin. He played in a sensational chipped pass to get Bruin one on one with keeper. Bruin rounded the keeper in bizarre fashion to make the score 5-0.
To this day, this was the best performance the Dynamo have ever put in against FC Dallas. Unfortunately, the seasons played out the complete opposite way with the Dynamo not winning another game for two months and finishing rock bottom of the Western Conference with Coyle getting sacked. Dallas went on to finish top of the West, winning the Supporters Shield in a close race with the New York Red Bulls. However, Dallas still failed to even make the MLS Cup final despite their great season. Which is why they still have zero stars on their jersey.
Can the Dynamo repeat their huge victory over Dallas in 2016? We will find out Saturday in what should be an incredible rivalry game between two teams with loads of new faces in their squads.
