RECAP: FC Dallas ends the Dynamo’s 2014 US Open Cup run in overtime

The Houston Dynamo again crashed out of the US Open Cup, as usual, in a 3-2 overtime loss to FC Dallas on Tuesday night at BBVA Compass Stadium. While this time the Dynamo played significantly better than the last few games, especially on the offensive side, the Dynamo could not cope with either FC Dallas’s killer speed or their own defensive weaknesses.

FC Dallas’s Fabian Castillo ran circles around the Dynamo defense, especially around Warren Creavalle who played at left back and had a brutal night. Castillo scored a goal and assisted on another, and just totally destroyed the seemingly slow Houston backline. Other FC Dallas players like Andres Escobar and Tesho Akindele also had a field day. Both scored goals to seal the deal for the visitors.

At least the Dynamo competed, had the work rate and initiative, and on two occasions responded to Dallas goals. They looked much better than on previous matches, including some players who needed to show they belong. Jason Johnson had to go in after Will Bruin left with an injury before the half hour mark, and looked vibrant and comfortable in the center of the field. Omar Cummings was electric for most of the game, especially after the positional switch brought on by Bruin’s injury. Giles Barnes moved forward and the Dynamo orange actually got a boost. Barnes worked his butt off all night long and led by example, even though he did have some misses on goal. His penalty kick execution was flawless in his first half goal. Andrew Driver finally showed some of those skills we haven’t seen in 2014 yet and was very active throughout. The Dynamo looked sharper up top all around.

What doomed the Dynamo was all the key defensive breakdowns. Castillo gave Dallas the 1-0 lead on an individual play where it seemed that the Dynamo defense just stood still. AJ Cochran, Jermaine Taylor, Creavalle, and Servando Carrasco were all left in the dust; while Tally Hall was left unprotected. Castillo just ran through and scored at will.
On the second Dallas goal in the 59^th minute, Andres Escobar found way too much space to strike a killer shot past a frozen Hall on a cross from the ever-present Castillo.

Cummings tied it up with the play of the night for the Dynamo on an individual run off a turnover near midfield. His finish was perfect against a defenseless Chris Seitz.

Both teams had chances to end the game in regulation, and Hall kept the Dynamo alive with a monumental flying save off a long-range bender by Moises Hernandez. Neither team was able to get a goal and the game ended regulation time tied 2-2. The game went into over time which consisted of two fifteen minute periods without a golden goal rule.

Both teams looked exhausted as they played late into the night as the heat and humidity took its toll. In overtime, however, another defensive error allowed Akindele to finish off the Houston side on a shot that Hall almost reached but couldn’t quite get to.

In the end, the Houston Dynamo did play well at times but the speed and quickness of Dallas, along with serious defensive letdowns, doomed the orange again.

FC Dallas: Chris Seitz; Moises Hernandez, Stephen Keel, Tesho Akindele, Zach Loyd; Victor Ulloa, Adam Moffat(Andrew Jacobson 67), Andres Escobar (Jair Benitez 97), Je-Vaughn Watson; Fabian Castillo, Blas Perez (Peter Luccin 83)

Houston Dynamo: Tally Hall; Kofi Sarkodie (Eric Brunner 106), Jermaine Taylor, AJ Cochran, Warren Creavalle; Alexander Lopez (Brian Ownby 66), Servando Carrasco, Giles Barnes, Andrew Driver; Will Bruin (Jason Johnson 23), Omar Cummings

Scoring

FC Dallas: Fabian Castillo (Je-Vaughn Watson) 35
Houston: Giles Barnes (penalty) 43
FC Dallas: Andres Escobar (Fabian Castillo) 59
Houston: Omar Cummings (unassisted) 62
FC Dallas: Tesho Akindele (unassisted) 98