Dynamo 0 - 2 FC Dallas
Final
  for this game

Dynamo, FCD battle for El Capitan

Jun 25, 2015 - 8:06 PM Frisco, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - FC Dallas returns home to Toyota Stadium on Friday to tangle with the Houston Dynamo in the battle for El Capitan.

Dallas is coming off a five-game road trip that netted the club just two points, so Oscar Pareja's team will be eager to get back to familiar surroundings in an effort to return to the win column.

FCD's last outing saw the club take a 1-0 lead into the 88th minute at the Colorado Rapids thanks to a goal from Fabian Castillo. However, Dillon Serna equalized two minutes from time for the hosts, denying road-weary Dallas three points.

"To be honest with all of the traveling we have had and the Open Cup game during the week, we tried to just get some players who we think had the energy to respond today," Pareja said following the match, "because coming to Colorado isn't easy with the altitude and big field and all of those things."

Dallas is winless in its last six games in league play, but the club will be happy to see in-state rival Houston with Pareja's side claiming three successive wins against the Dynamo, including a 4-1 triumph this past May.

A win for Dallas would allow the club to retain El Capitan, the cannon used to signify the winner of the season series between the two teams.

But more than that, defender Zach Loyd is looking forward to just getting back home and trying to collect three points.

"We're ready to get a win. That one hurts not getting a win," Loyd said after the draw in Colorado. "But at the same time, you've got to look at the positives. We've got four games at home now coming up out of the next five. I think we're looking forward to that."

Houston holds the all-time lead in the series between the teams with a record of 10-7-7 against Dallas, but the Dynamo needs to snap its three-game losing skid against FCD to climb back into the middle of the Western Conference table.

Owen Coyle's side is ninth in the 10-team West after losing 2-0 at Portland last time out to goals from Max Urruti and Gaston Fernandez.

The result extended Houston's road winless streak to six games, so Coyle's men will be trying to break a few negative streaks on Friday.

The match in Dallas will also be a chance for the Dynamo to bounce back from a disappointing outing in Portland.

"I felt that we didn't play well the whole game, not just the two mistakes we made," said Dynamo midfielder DaMarcus Beasley. "From back to front we were soft. We gave the ball away in bad areas. Just all-in-all a bad game.

"I'm not pointing fingers at anybody. Collectively, as a whole team, we weren't good enough tonight."






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