HOUSTON, Texas (Saturday, March 12) – In their first road match of 2016, FC Dallas fell 5-0 to Texas Derby rival Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium. Four of Houston's goals came in a 21-minute span in the first half with Andrew Wenger scoring a goal and an assist.
Houston started strong and opened the scoring in the 6th minute as Andrew Wenger served in a cross that was headed in from close range by defender David Horst, his first goal since 2014 and the first goal allowed by FC Dallas this season.
Things got worse for FCD in the 13th minute as a miscommunication at the back saw defender Matt Hedges send the ball into his own goal to double the Dynamo lead.
Houston went up 3-0 on FC Dallas in the 23rd minute as Ricardo Clark latched on to a feed from Andrew Wenger at the top of the box and smashed in a low, driven shot past Jesse Gonzalez.
FC Dallas conceded again in the 27th minute as a Matt Hedges clearance deflected off Maynor Figueroa into the path of Andrew Wenger who easily tapped home to put Houston up 4-0 less than 30 minutes into the match.
FCD’s best chance of the first half came in the 45th minute as Michael Barrios found space on the right side. His cross in to Maxi Urruti was sent just wide, however, as Dallas took a 4-0 deficit to half time.
FC Dallas came out of the halftime break strong and nearly pulled one back in the 54th minute as Ryan Hollingshead’s header from a Mauro Diaz set piece was well-saved by Joe Willis with the rebound just out of Kellyn Acosta’s reach.
In the 61st minute, FC Dallas had another solid chance after a sustained buildup with Mauro Diaz firing a shot at Willis that the ‘keeper was able to hang onto.
Houston rounded out the scoring in the 85th minute as Will Bruin received a scooped pass from Leonel Miranda, rounded Gonzalez and finished from a tight angle to give Houston a 5-0 win.
FC Dallas (1-1-0) returns to Toyota Stadium next Saturday night where they will host the Montreal Impact in their second match against an Eastern Conference opponent this season.
Scoring Summary:
HOU: David Horst (1) (Andrew Wenger) - 6'
HOU: Own Goal - 13'
HOU: Ricardo Clark (1) - 23'
HOU: Andrew Wenger (2) - 27'
HOU: Will Bruin (1) - 85'
FC Dallas – Jesse Gonzalez, Maynor Figueroa, Walker Zimmerman, Matt Hedges, Atiba Harris(Ryan Hollingshead 45), Fabian Castillo(Tesho Akindele 59), Kellyn Acosta, Carlos Gruezo(Victor Ulloa 63), Michael Barrios, Mauro Diaz, Max Urruti.
Substitutes Not Used: Chris Seitz, Zach Loyd, Juan Esteban Ortiz, Mauro Rosales
Houston Dynamo – Joe Willis, Damarcus Beasley, Raul Rodriguez, David Horst, Jalil Anibaba, Ricardo Clark(David Rocha 77), Alex, Giles Barnes(Boniek Garcia 19), Cristian Maidana(Leonel Miranda 44), Andrew Wenger, Will Bruin
Substitutes Not Used: Calle Brown, Agus, Mauro Manotas, Erick Torres
Misconduct Summary:
DAL: Atiba Harris (caution) - 21'
HOU: Raul Rodriguez (caution) - 32'
DAL: Carlos Gruezo (caution) - 33'
HOU: Will Bruin (caution) - 34'
DAL: Maynor Figueroa (caution) - 43'
HOU: Boniek Garcia (caution) - 80'
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
RefereeAssistants: Jeff Muschik, Matthew Nelson
FourthOfficial: Younes Marrakchi
Weather: Clear, 70
Attendance: 21,601
