Some games deserve a nice, clean, tactical breakdown.
This one deserved a deep breath and a strong drink first. Or at least a strong cup of coffee since it is a Monday morning here.
FC Dallas’ 4-3 win over the Houston Dynamo had everything from an electric start, a complete defensive meltdown, a man advantage, and a late winner to somehow tie it all together. What looked like a comfortable night after Logan Farrington’s early brace quickly turned into chaos, forcing FC Dallas to adjust on the fly and rediscover its control in the second half.
Let’s dis into how this one swung wilding from dominance to disaster and back again.
The Derby brings out the dogs
There is no getting around it, folks, this was as wild of a Texas Derby as we’ve seen in recent memories. To go up early, then down before half, and respond with an eventual game-winner late.
The Derby truly was on a new level this past Saturday.
But it also showed the mantra that FC Dallas manager Eric Quill and his staff keep preaching. It is all about being dogs. I know he has brought this kind of thing up time and time again already this season, but on Saturday night in a Derby match, I believe it was the first time I felt the dog mentality truly take shape.
“We’ve used this mantra a million times. We’re dogs. We’ve got a bunch of dogs in this locker room and in this organization. We work hard, we care deeply, and that resilience has been evident through the first four games. Every game, you see a group that can come back from anything. Nothing will faze us. That’s what winners do. Winners find a way. We have big ambitions to be somebody in this league, and nights like tonight show what we’re about. I told the guys the scary thing is we’re going to get better. We’re going to continue to improve. I’m pleased with tonight, but we all know we can be better. That’s what I love about this group. They work tirelessly. I hope they enjoy this. Now we go into the international break, get some rest, get some bodies back and keep building.” - FCD manager Eric Quill on the team’s fighting sprit