Cooper Lifts Dallas 3-2 Over Houston

Late goal by Kenny Cooper lifts Dallas over rivals Houston.

Fulltime: FC Dallas 3 - 2 Houston Dynamo

Well that was entertaining.

FC Dallas downs their Texas Derby rivals the Houston Dynamo 3-2 on a wild Sunday afternoon. Kenny Cooper scored the game winner in the 90th minute on a slightly controversial goal (The Hand of Coop anyone?). Michel sent in the ball to Cooper, who mis-headed it to himself before hammering it into the back of the net.

The goal was Cooper's first of the season, and his fifth against Houston all-time as a member of FC Dallas.

Dallas had a 2-0 lead after the first half thanks to goals in the 34th minute by George John and in the 36th minute by Andrew Jacobson. Both goals came off set pieces for Dallas.

Houston came back in a hurry in the second half however with two goals in 79th minute by Andy Driver and again in the 83rd minute by Brad Davis. Drivers' goal came thanks to an open net after Raul Fernandez was beat on the wings by a Dynamo attacker. Fernandez also gifted the Dynamo the Davis goal as he came off his line to get a ball before missing it, allowing Davis to hammer home the easy chance.

Amazingly this game didn't see a ton of cards, only one in fact to to Houston's Kofi Sarokde midway through the second half. The Dynamo certainly had plenty of fouls on the day, by committing 14 fouls on the day.

In the end it doesn't matter. The Cannon has returned to Frisco and Cooper is once again a legend here in Dallas.

Halftime: FC Dallas 2 - 0 Houston Dynamo

Boy, that was a fun few minutes for FC Dallas. Goals in the 34th minute by George John and the 36th minute by Andrew Jacobson have Dallas up 2-0 over the Houston Dynamo.

The two goals both came off set pieces and both were the first goals of the year for John and Jacobson.

It took Dallas about 25 minutes to get into this one with David Ferreira setting up the attack and finding guys like Blas Perez, Kenny Cooper and Jackson.

Jackson nearly had the game's third goal a few minutes after Jacobson's corner kick finish. Ferreira sprayed a ball on the far sideline to Jackson who beat Bobby Boswell but the sideline official waved Jackson offside.

The Dynamo nearly had a chance 20 minutes in with Giles Barnes. The striker streaked down the right side of the field thanks to a through ball from Oscar Boneik Garcia. Barnes beat Matt Hedges and was clear on goal with Raul Fernandez. Barnes had Will Bruin wide open for an easy pass but opted to shoot the ball himself. Fernandez came up big on the play and the corner kick afterwards.

With this lead, this is the first time ever that FC Dallas has lead Houston by a 2-0 scoreline.

FC Dallas vs Houston Dynamo - Lineups

A few changes for Schellas Hyndman's FC Dallas squad this afternoon on Rivalry Day against the Houston Dynamo. Michel will start in the center of the midfield with Andrew Jacobson. Yes, that means Jair "Red Card" Benitez will start at left back.

The only other change sees Blas Perez return to the lineup after a two game suspension to start the season.

The Dynamo don't have too many changes from their previous game.

FC Dallas: Raul Fernandez, Jair Benitez, George John, Matt Hedges, Zach Loyd, Michel, Andrew Jacobson, Jackson, David Ferreira, Blas Perez, and Kenny Cooper

Bench: Chris Seitz, London Woodberry, Stephen Keel, Fabian Castillo, Eric Hassli, Bobby Warshaw, and Je-Vaughn Watson

Houston Dynamo: Tally Hall, Corey Ashe, Bobby Boswell, Jermaine Taylor, Kofi Sarkodie, Brad Davis, Adam Moffat, Ricardo Clark, Oscar Boneik Garcia, Will Bruin, Giles Barnes

Bench: Tyler Deric, Eric Brunner, Andy Driver, Luis Carmago, Brian Ching, Warren Creavalle, and Cam Weaver

What do you all think of this news?

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