The Houston Dynamo suffered their first ever home loss to Texas rival FC Dallas Wednesday night, falling 1-0 at Robertson Stadium to return to the .500 mark at 3-3-1. Dallas won the season series against Houston (1-0-1) for the first time in the teams’ five-year rivalry, although it is the second time Dallas has won El Capitán, the Civil War-era cannon awarded to the winner of the season series.
Houston returns to action on Saturday night, taking on Chivas USA in the first of back-to-back road games. The Dynamo have not recorded the same result twice in a row at any point this season.
FC Dallas went down to 10 men in the 73rd minute when defender Jair Benitez was ejected for a hard mid-air foul on Houston’s Luis LandÃn. Yet Dallas took the lead six minutes later when Dax McCarty played a free kick toward the left post. Midfielder Brek Shea volleyed the ball back across the face of goal, and defender Ugo Ihemelu headed it in for the decisive tally.
Houston still leads the all-time series between the teams, 9-4-6, and is 7-1-2 all-time at home against Dallas. The loss was the Dynamo’s second home regular season loss of the season, most since 2007, when Houston lost three games at home in the regular season but went on to win its second consecutive MLS Cup title.
For the fifth time in seven games, the Dynamo were forced to make a first-half substitution due to injury. On Wednesday, defender Eddie Robinson landed awkwardly and had to be replaced by Ryan Cochrane in the 39th minute. Robinson was diagnosed with a sprained knee.
Midfielder Richard Mulrooney came on as a second-half substitute for Houston, making his first appearance since leaving with an injury on April 10. It was his 90th appearance for the Dynamo in all competitions.
Other milestones on the night included midfielder Brian Mullan making his 235th career MLS regular season appearance; defender Bobby Boswell making his 145th career MLS regular season appearance, and defender Ryan Cochrane making his 115th career MLS regular season appearance and his 80th for the Dynamo in all competitions. Midfielder Brad Davis made his 140th career appearance for Houston and defender Mike Chabala made his 30th career start for Houston, both in all competitions. Midfielder Danny Cruz made his fourth appearance of the year and 15th of his career in all competitions.
The Dynamo played without forwards Brian Ching (hamstring), Joseph Ngwenya (ITC paperwork), and Cam Weaver (knee); and midfielder Geoff Cameron (PCL surgery).
