Houston downs Dallas in first game of Texas Derby

After the match, BBVA Compass Stadium broadcast
The Kentucky Derby on the scoreboard
for the soccer fans to watch.

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 4, 2019) With a totally domination of FC Dallas (5-3-2, 17 points), forward Mauro Manotas scored a brace to give the Houston Dyanmo a 2-1 win in the first match of the Texas Derby, played at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. The goals were his fourth and fifth of the season, and raised his career total to 40.

The first score came in the 21st minute on a penalty kick; putting the ball past Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez and into the back of the goal. The PK was awarded when Alberth Elis was tripped in the box; causing Dallas fans to question the penalty, since the call was not reviewed by the game officials.

His brace occured in the 58th minute, when the Dynamo counterattacked, bringing the ball down the pitch, with Elis nailing a pass to Manotas. The Colombian right-footed the ball from the right side of the box; again getting the ball past Gonzalez.

The match was the first of two meetings between Houston and Dallas this season. The second game will be played at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday, August 24. Houston won the Texas Derby, and the "possession" of El Capitan, a Texas Revolutionary War-era cannon. The fully functional cannon was won by the Dynamo in 2016; retaining it in 2017, before Dallas Captures it last season. 

With the win, Houston moves to 6-1-1 (19 points) and gives them their fifth straight home victory; improving their home record to 5-0-1. It also improved Houston's record versus Dallas to 11-10-13 all-time and 8-4-6 in Houston. It also improved the Dynamo's record against Western Conference opponents to 4-1-1 on the year.

Next up for the Dynamo is a Saturday, May 11 game against Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, with a 9 p.m. CDT start.