MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Dominates Houston Dynamo in 5-1 Win

Published on August 26, 2019 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


Frisco, TX - FC Dallas blasts through Houston in the second leg of the Texas Derby and takes El Capitán for the second consecutive season thanks to a brace by Ondrasek and goals from Reto Ziegler, Jesús Ferreira, and Michael Barrios Saturday night at Toyota Stadium.

Game Summary

First Half:

1' - Jesse Gonzalez opened the game with a save off Tommy McNamara, which was the 250th save of his career.

20' - Gonzalez got down well to keep out a low drive from Alberth Elis.

24' - Reto Ziegler stepped forward and buried his penalty in the side-netting past the despairing dive of Joe Willis after a curling ball by Bryan Acosta beat the Houston defense and Dominique Badji was dragged down for a penalty.

28' - A flick from Zdenek Ondrasek played in Jesús Ferreira, who slalomed between the center backs and slotted the ball in the corner.

Second Half:

56' - Ryan Hollingshead got free down the left, and Zdenek Ondrasek met his whipped cross with an outstretched boot to give FC Dallas a 3-0 lead.

73' - Paxton Pomkyal got free on the wing and he played a ball across the six-yard box that Ondrasek was unable to turn goalbound.

80' - Houston took a quick throw in, and the ball made its way to Mauro Manotas, who squarred it to Memo Rodríguez to tap into an empty net.

87' - Pomkyal corralled a pass out to the wing, ducked two defenders, and sliced open the Houston defense with a cross to a wide open Ferreira who doubled his tally, but the goal was called back by VAR for offside.

90' + 6' - Michael Barrios evaded two challenges, and after a miscue from Houston at the back he was left with the simplest of tap-ins.

Lineups:

FC Dallas - Jesse González; Reggie Cannon, Matt Hedges, Reto Ziegler, Ryan Hollingshead; Brandon Servania, Bryan Acosta, Jesús Ferreira (Bressan - 89'); Michael Barrios, Zdenek Ondrasek (Ricardo Pepi - 83'), Dominique Badji (Paxton Pomkyal - 69').

Substitutes not used - Jimmy Maurer, Bryan Reynolds, Edwin Cerrillo, Cristian Colmán.

Houston Dynamo - Joe Willis; José Bizama, Kiki Struna, Maynor Figueroa, DeMarcus Beasley; Matías Vera (Darwin Cerén - 80'), Boniek Garcia, Tomás Martínez (Christian Ramirez - 54'); Alberth Elis, Tommy McNamara (Memo Rodríguez - 65'), Mauro Manotas.

Substitutes not used - Michael Nelson, Kevin Garcia, Adam Lundkvist, Nikolaj Hansan.

Scoring Summary:

FCD:Reto Ziegler (PK) - 24'

FCD:Jesús Ferreira (Zdenek Ondrasek) - 29'

FCD: Zdenek Ondrasek (Ryan Hollingshead, Michael Barrios) - 56'

FCD:Zdenek Ondrasek (Dominique Badji) - 63'

HOU:Memo Rodriguez (Mauro Manotas, Alberth Elis) - 80'

FCD:Michael Barrios - 90'+6'

Misconduct Summary:

HOU: Alberth Elis (caution) -14 '

HOU: José Bizama (caution) -23'

FCD: Dominique Badji (caution) - 28 '

FCD: Jesús Ferreira (caution) - 28 '

Weather: Mostly Sunny, 92

Attendance: 15,452

Referee:Armando Villarreal

Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Eduardo Mariscal

4th Official: Rubiel Vazquez

VAR:Ricardo Salazar

FC Dallas head coach Luchi Gonzalez

Overall thoughts on tonight's match...

One of our best games in terms of efficiency: efficiency around the box, in the box, getting numbers in the box and getting service. First 15-20 minutes, we were a little flat, but the group responded. They adapted to the game quickly and I thought they took it over. I thought the passing, the tempo, was better than normal. I know that Houston has a good transition and counter that we have to be aware of and it could hurt us early in the game, but that first goal was very important, that first goal was very important because it opened them up...I think you see of our potential. I think you see some of our potential, and I look forward to continuing to show more potential. We have an important step next week with Cincinnati to take advantage of but we are going to take it one moment at a time. We're going to regroup and see the health of the group and have a growth week, development week, and a focus week for the next step.

On Zdenek "Cobra" Ondrasek's performance during the game and how he's worked throughout the season to achieve that...

What can I say Cobra, two goals. That is a player that was not getting opportunities frequently at the beginning of the season, even midseason, but he always had respect for the team. He worked and adapted and any minute that he's been getting recently, he has earned and he is taking advantage of it at this moment. He's a good reference in the box and he's in line with a lot of the things that we are trying to do with the ball and without the ball. So a great night for him to help his team. The way he was starting or playing showed teammate mentality. And this a product tonight of a group, of a locker room, of a staff that is trying to help the guy next to them. And so I couldn't be more proud. But we've got more battles in front of us and we have a big battle next week. This is Cincinnati next week and we can't look at the table and have that as our reference. The reference is were are home, Cincinnati has good players and they're going to fight and we need to show more fight. That what it comes down to. So looking forward to the next step.

On the team's positive reaction to pressure...

They showed that during the week. This game had a lot of meaning whether it's the derby, whether it's the playoff push, home game, coming back from a double roadtrip. We were hungry to get a win. So, a lot of meaning in this game and I think that helped our energy and our focus to perform and we wanted to step up and the guys stepped it up tonight. I think they embraced the pressure and that pressure is an opportunity for us to show our best and I thought they showed their qualities to deal with pressure.

On how it clicked in the final third...

We talked about getting service in there earlier, to give less time for the opponent to get set. With Cobra he has been showing that he is ready for any type or service, whether it is a run in behind the back, whether it is a jump or a challenge, or a layoff for another player. So he has variation in his box game, and can play to our strength in terms of the personnel on the field. So, I think he was a good reference for us to get some earlier service in and play off of that and get guys winning second balls. [For example], Michael Barrios scores from a deflection that ends up at his feet, so it's just about staying connected with the ball and the play. Getting around the ball when it is in the box, getting in front, the ball can pop up in the box, we can get in front and redirect it and put it on frame. It doesn't have to be a beauty. Goals are scored in different ways, and we had conviction tonight: to get numbers and balls in the box.

On how the team is responding in the final matches...

We spoke earlier about Montreal, the second half being a reference. It's a reference for us. In this season, we are going to talk about the Montreal second half, we are going to remind ourselves to visualize what it took to get back into the game. The energy, the pressure, we needed to press, we needed to be together, we needed to commit numbers forward, we needed to have urgency, so it's a good reference, and we can use it as a catalyst in this push at the end of the season.

FC Dallas forward Jesus Ferreira

On earning the largest victory of the season against their rivals...

the whole team is happy. We're happy that we put the things that coach Luchi put us to do during training and applied that to the game. We love to score and there were a lot of people talking about our attack, how we haven't scored many, but we're showing them that we're improving. I said it before we had to improve it during training and we're doing that and showing it in the game."

On his goal...

I knew that there was a lot of space, they were giving a lot of space, and I thought that me dribbling would bring a lot of players inside and release. But I saw them coming inside and just took the shot.

How this result on the back of the comeback against Montreal...

The second half in Montreal showed what we were able to do. We always had that in our head. We knew if we went out there in the first half and sh0w any team that we can do. That, that we can push and score and defend, we should be good- especially at home.

FC Dallas forward Zdenek Ondrasek

On his overall thoughts on the game...

I am so tired, to be honest. I am so tired, but my parents said they saw me and I just responded. They are happy, but they are so far, they stayed up late, there it's like 2AM. The game started at 2AM, so they watched the game and they are so happy. They are tired too and they need to go to sleep. They are so happy, and it is just an amazing feeling, long way ahead of us, hard work, so as I said enjoy the day, but from Tuesday it is the past and we have to focus for Cinnicinati.

On his goalscoring record...

Of course I'd like to score more goals, but the hard work pays off today so we have to keep going.

On his two goals...

To be honest, the first goal it looked so far from me so I jumped and suddenly it hit my leg so I was happy. Second goal I had to watch the replay, I don't know how. Dominique Badji told me when he gets the ball I have to be there because he will play the ball. First half, he had the opportunity, but he had a difficulty and couldn't play the ball. Halftime, he told me he would play the ball and he did, and to be honest I just jumped, I look at him and he looked at me and I don't know how it went in. But I'm just happy.

On his relationship with Badji...

Everyone loves this sweet guy. He is so sweet. Everyone here loves him, and he told me he is a nine, but as long as you play, I'll be working for you and for your goals and he did it today, so I'm very happy with that. I hope I will pay him back some day, maybe next weekend if I get the chance to play. Yeah, he is a great guy, I love to hang out with him, and everyone loves him here.

On the importance of the rivalry win...

Yeah, happy that the people came and they were great. They helped push us, and we scored five goals for a win, we were hungry, and got goal after goal, it's great. We enjoy today, we [will] enjoy tomorrow, but from Tuesday we get ready for next week because every game is important.

On his first home start...

I got to start in LA, and now I am happy. I was hoping the whole week that I might start, and I am happy that the chance came, and it has been a long time since I started, so I wanted to prepare myself as good as possible. As I say, it wasn't the best, my game, but I'm happy with the goals and also with the 3 points.

On confidence for the playoff push...

I don't want to talk about playoffs. Everyone is talking about playoffs, playoffs. For us, it is the next game, Cincinnati. We don't look at the other teams. We know what we are, and we know what we have to do. We have to get as many points as possible, and that is our only target. If you want to win the league, you have to play like it is playoffs from the first game of the season, so it doesn't matter how we lose, we know that if we win and make many points we will be there and Cincinnati is the target now.

Houston Dynamo interim head coach Davy Arnaud

On the difference between his first two games in charge...

I think our response to going down tonight was not like the last game. We started the first 15 minutes pretty well. We took the first goal and then the second, and we weren't able to get ourselves back in the game. We lost confidence and after that point we were second best in every area of the game tonight.

On learning from the result tonight...

We have to learn from it. I think we saw somethings about ourselves that we didn't like. So of course, you have to learn from it, and we have to move on. We must understand that there is another game to prepare for next week. There are seven games left and 21 points still available. So, we'll move on and put it behind us and focus on Sporting next week.

On Memo and the subs creating an impact in the game...

I thought he lifted us. He came in and got the goal. Overall, I'm not happy with the performance of the team. Memo came in and brought something, so did Christian and Darwin. It was to get Darwin[Ceren] in the game. But overall it wasn't good enough.

Houston Dynamo defender Jose Bizama

On the team's current form...

It's a difficult time period which we are going through right now. But we must maintain our head up and keep working. There is no other way to it.

On trying to adapt to the team...

It's difficult, but I am trying to adapt to my teammates and my club. I think we are trying to do it as quickly as possible because there isn't enough time to adapt. We need results now, so we have to keep working hard every day to be at the level where my team needs me.

FC Dallas forward Alberth Elis

General thoughts on the match...

We came in a good mood; we had prepared well during the week. It didn't go as planned and they went over us tonight.

On turning this page focusing on the next game...

We must keep on working during the week. With the aim of playing a better game in Kansas City. We will work to get three points next week.

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