FC Dallas took an early lead
Photo: Thomas Gosse (Prost Amerika)
Dallas beat their Texas rivals for the third straight time and did so with some considerable ease tonight in the Bayou City. Goals from David Texeira, Fabian Castillo plus tallies from Ryan Hollingshead and Mauro Diaz embarrassed their I-45 neighbours on their own patch. In Owen Coyle’s native country, they would call this a right doing or pasting and the Scot has much to ponder after Houston conceded four for the second match running following that rumbustious 4-4 draw with SKC.
Dallas sit atop the Western Conference for one night awaiting Vancouver’s own derby match with Portland.
Dallas have 17 points, now 7 ahead of floundering Houston.
The visitors’s achievement was all the greater as they started without the suspended Blas Perez. The 24-year-old Uruguayan Texeira replaced him, but this had little effect on their devastating finishing.
Ryan Hollingshead rifled in the opener through rather than past Houston keeper Tyler Deric and Texeira doubled that lead 12 minutes later. The latter exploited Castillo’s speed and Mauro Diaz’ passing accuracy. The former vast areas of real estate afforded to Hollingshead by an inattentive Houston rearguard. Castillo was credited with assists on both. Those however were not far short of Dallas’ only forays into Dynamo territory in what was a very patient, some might say overcautiously defensive approach.
With such a prolific amount of possession, Houston rarely threatened.
El Capitan
One long range Brad Davis drive soared over the bar. Most of their prodding came down the left flank through Davis but Dallas were superbly marshaled. Other than that, they passed and passed. In fact, they were single digits short of 200 passes before Dallas reached 100.
Bang on the half hour, Dallas suffered a double blow.
Houston were awarded a soft free kick just 20 yards out and central and Zach Loyd was forced off through injury to be replaced by Walker Zimmerman. Dallas did not survive the first with Giles Barnes curling a super set piece beyond a weak Dan Kennedy right hand.
Moises Hernandez stayed true to his task on the left frustrating. Meanwhile Hollingshead nearly ran right through the Houston defence before Mauro Diaz thumped home an amazing third with incredible power. Seconds later Castillo scored the fourth with ease while he got bored waiting for Kofie Sarkodie to tackle him.
Goals and assists once again for Fabian Castillo
Photo: Thomas Gosse (Prost Amerika)
Oscar Garcia replaced the anonymous Alex Lopez whose removal was practically his first act of note in the game, and Luis Garrido replaced the injured Nathan Sturgis. With 23 minutes left, Coyle made his third change; Rob Lovejoy in for Will Bruin. 17-year-old Alejandro Zendejas began his Dallas and MLS career with five minutes to go.
For Houston and Owen Coyle, there is nowhere to turn but their own defensive organisation and ask if each of the back four is good enough.
Oscar Pareja can sit with his feet up this weekend in one of his trademark sweaters and plot the downfall of his other Conference rivals however he has the fitness of Loyd and a late injury that forced Matt Hedges off to concern him.
