Wow! What more can be said. Another trip to Houston and another loss. This time FC Dallas went into Robertson Stadium to take on the Houston Dynamo in the battle for El Capitan only to come out on the short end of a 1-0 score. This now moves FCD to 0-5-2 all-time in south Texas against their closest rivals. Dallas was out-worked, out-played, out-shot, out-everythinged on national television. The fans of the Red Stripes from north Texas are increasingly calling for Head Coach Schellas Hyndman’s job but with his connection to the ownership group being so strong, the fans have this year and at least three more full seasons of watching him as the gaffer. Hyndman’s all-time MLS record of 5-11-9 is certainly not what he had in mind when he finally took this gig after many previous attempts by FCD (and the Dallas Burn) to lure him from the Hilltop of SMU.

FC Dallas played an even first half, as least as far as the scorboard showed. A nice shot attempt from distance in the second minute by FCD forward Jeff Cunningham would unfortunately prove to be about the only thing he did. In the 10th minute Dallas’ much maligned defensive corp almost added to the fans frustration as FCD defender Steve Purdy made a terrible back pass to keeper Ray Burse that Ray had to blast out giving Houston a corner kick that almost resulted in a goal. Not a whole lot otherwise happened in the first 45 except for Houston’s Brian Ching blowing a great chance in the 38th minute.

The half ended with FCD on the short end of both shots, 6-4, and shots on goal, 1-0. Also, somehow, someway you just knew that FCD was not going to improve their all-time stinker of a record against Houston, which coming in was 1-5-5. The lack of possession, no real chances and just the aura that is currently surrounding this team that a mistake is bound to happen just makes it hard to believe in this team at the moment. 

As we came back from the break, the television showed a graphic that you never want associated with your team. Dallas has allowed five goals in the first 10 minutes of the second half of the seven games they have played so far and have also been outscored 11-2 in the second half this year. Well, the good news on the first stat is that they didn’t add to that one this time. But the bad news is they slightly altered it. Kei Kamara’s 57th minute goal now means FCD has given up 6 goals in 8 games in the first 15 minutes of the second half. The play started when Brad Davis sent a long thru ball up the left side that Stuart Holden easily out paced FCD holding midfielder Marcelo Saragosa and just before the ball got to the end line Holden made a nice cross towards the back post that Kamara easily out jumped FCD defender Steve Purdy and headed into the left side of the net, beating Burse who really didn’t have much of a chance.

A little later, in the 64th minute, Burse did make a nice save on a low shot from Brian Mullan and then the substitutions began. FCD brought on midfielders Dax McCarty and Eric Avila pretty much back-to-back with about 15 minutes to go to try and find an equalising goal. But Houston’s sub with less than 10 minutes remaining was the one that seemed spot on as Corey Ashe almost scored as Burse had to make another fine save to keep Dallas with at least some hope. It turns out Dallas only shot on goal was a stoppage time header by Purdy that was directly at Houston keeper Pat Onstad.

The game ended with Dallas being out shot 11-6, losing the shots on goal battle 4-1 and of course falling 1-0 to send them to an franchise worst 8 game start of 1-6-1. The next two games for the team formerly nicknamed the Hoops are at home so results are a must. It is a long MLS season and this early is to soon to say any game is a must win but after these two games at Pizza Hut Park the regular season will be one-third over with and after already being eliminated from the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup competition, FCD has to make the playoffs to even come close to making this a successful season.

Game Grades:

Burse 5 couple of nice saves but sometimes you just have to shut the other team out

Moor 5 nothing really good or bad here

John 6 this boy can play, frustrated Ching quite a bit and saved Purdy late

Purdy 3 Kamara beat him easily, had terrible early pass and got beat late 

Wagner 4 does nice things occasionally but terrible passing hurts

Saragosa 4 defensive mid is not for him and Holden made him look like a slow linebacker chasing Adrian Peterson

Rocha 4 he played so much better last year

van den Bergh 5 some nice crosses but midfield as a whole never really possessed it very long 

Ferreira 4 had a couple of nice passes late but he was big-time called out by the announcers for not producing

Cunningham 4 nice early shot, bad touches throughout

Cooper 4 workrate is unquestioned but did nothing this game

Substitutes:
McCarty 4 tried to spark team but didn’t happen

Avila 3 I actually forgot for a minute he came in, usually very good late

Marosevic 4 came in with about 7 minutes left, did little