The Houston Dynamo secured a 2-0 win over FC Dallas in the Texas Derby, courtesy of goals from Darwin Quintero and Darwin Ceren.
The result sees Houston move within two points of the Playoffs, leapfrogging Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy in the Western Conference standings in the process. Dallas, meanwhile, fell to sixth in the West following Sporting Kansas City’s win over the Chicago Fire.
It was the visitors who dominated the opening exchanges, with Andres Ricaurte hitting the post on five minutes. Houston goalkeeper Marko Maric was forced into more action a few minutes later, saving a driven shot from Barrios with his legs.
Dallas’ pressure wasn’t to last, allowing Houston to gain a foothold in the match for the first time. The Dynamo took the lead after 20 minutes, with Quintero shifting his feet quickly to slot a low shot into the bottom corner.
The Video Assistant Referee intervened on the stroke of half time, with Mauro Manotas awarded a red card for a dangerous tackle on Ricaurte.
Dallas continued to exert their dominance after the break, racking up 28 shots, but were unable to find the breakthrough. Instead, it was ten men Houston who scored the second – and final – goal of the game.
After Niko Hansen drew a foul in the box, the Dynamo were awarded a penalty kick that was eventually dispatched by Ceren. Houston forward Christian Ramirez had lined-up to take the shot, but was ineligible to do so because he was off the field receiving treatment at the time the penalty was awarded.
The video review was applied for a final time in the ninetieth minute, with Dallas defender Bressan avoiding a red card after it was deemed that his tackle on Sam Junqua did not meet the threshold of dangerous play.
Tab Ramos – ‘I couldn’t be any prouder of the team’
In securing victory over their Texan rivals, Houston snapped a six-game winless streak on Wednesday evening. After the game, Dynamo head coach Tab Ramos praised his players for their “amazing” effort.
“It was about effort, and it was about being together and about fighting as a team,” Ramos told reporters. “I really couldn’t be any prouder of the team today. The effort was amazing in a moment where we really needed a win.”
Ramos also reserved warm words for Maric, who made eight saves on route to a shutout.
“Marko had a great game,” Ramos said. “Obviously, he made a bunch of big saves, and I think he led the defense really well. I think he communicated well, and I think he’s trying to build on his experience in the league, so that’s a great thing.”
Line-Ups:
FC Dallas — Jimmy Maurer; Ryan Hollingshead, Reto Ziegler (Dante Sealy – 85’), Matt Hedges (Bressan – 34’), Bryan Reynolds; Thiago Santos (Tanner Tessmann – 46’), Andrés Ricaurte, Bryan Acosta (Jesús Ferreira – 64’); Fafa Picault (Ricardo Pepi – 85’), Franco Jara, Michael Barrios.
Houston Dynamo — Marko Maric; Adam Lundkvist, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Aljaz Struna, José Bizama (Wilfred Zahibo – 90’+10’); Sam Junqua (Zarek Valentin – 90’+4’), Oscar Boniek García, Darwin Cerén; Darwin Quintero (Christian Ramirez – 70’), Mauro Manotas, Ariel Lassiter (Niko Hansen – 70’). Substitutes not used — Cody Cropper, Tomás Martínez, Nico Lemoine, Marcelo Palomino.
Next Up:
Houston Dynamo: Saturday, October 10 at Inter Miami CF (6 pm ET | UniMás, TUDN, Twitter (English commentary), MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)
FC Dallas: Sunday, October 11 vs. Minnesota United FC (9:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+, FOX Sports Southwest, FOX Sports North, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada)