The Houston Dynamo fell 5-1 to their intra-state rivals FC Dallas tonight at Toyota Stadium. The Dynamo started hot, creating multiple scoring opportunities in the first 20 minutes, nearly finding the net inside the first minute after midfielders Tommy McNamara and Tomás Martínez combined inside the penalty area. Despite dominating possession and keeping the ball inside Dallas’ defensive third for most of the first quarter-hour, the Dynamo were unable to find the back of the net.
FC Dallas took the lead in the 24th minute when captain Reto Ziegler converted a penalty kick. FC Dallas was awarded the spot kick after Dynamo defender Jose Bizama was whistled for a foul on forward Dominique Badji at the edge of the six-yard box.
The north Texas side doubled their lead five minutes later when forward Zdenek Ondrasek intercepted a pass near midfield and quickly found midfielder Jesús Ferreira in space. Ferreira dribbled to the top of the box and cut inside to create an opening for a shot that beat Dynamo goalkeeper Joe Willis at the far post.
Ondrasek added a brace of his own with two goals in eight minutes early in the second half. Defender Ryan Hollingshead found Ondrasek inside the box in the 56th minute for his first goal of the evening. Badji’s low cross found the forward at the far post in the 64th minute for his fourth goal of the season.
Dynamo forward Memo Rodriguez put Houston on the board in the 80th minute when he tapped in a centering pass from forward Mauro Manotas. The goal was Rodriguez’s sixth of the season, extending his career high.
Dallas forward Michael Barrios capped the scoring in the sixth minute of stoppage time when he put away a rebound from close range.
The Dynamo will now travel to the Midwest next weekend for a showdown with Sporting Kansas City at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Children’s Mercy Park. The first match between both clubs ended in a 1-1 draw after Elis equalized for Houston minutes after Kansas City took the lead in the second half.
