Houston Dynamo Stun FC Dallas in Texas Derby with Second-Half Blitz

By Rene vidal

Houston Dynamo FC delivered a statement performance in the latest edition of the Texas Derby, defeating FC Dallas 2-0 at Toyota Stadium with two second-half goals from Jack McGlynn and Griffin Dorsey. A tense, foul-heavy first half gave way to a much more clinical display from the visitors after the interval, as Houston exploited their momentum with intelligent buildup play and efficient finishing to claim all three points in enemy territory.

First Half: Grit Without Glory

The opening 45 minutes were an archetypal derby battle: combative, tense, and littered with fouls. Both sides showed flashes of attacking intent but lacked the cutting edge to break the deadlock.

FC Dallas, backed by a passionate home crowd, started brightly with Luciano Acosta pulling the strings in midfield. The hosts earned several early corners and generated a few half-chances — most notably a blocked shot by Pedro Martins in the 39th minute and a speculative long-range effort from Anderson Julio that forced a save from Jonathan Bond.

Houston responded with a patient approach, often looking to find Dorsey and Lingr on the wings. Jack McGlynn's deliveries from set pieces caused some discomfort for the Dallas backline, and Brooklyn Raines had a promising attempt blocked by Julio in the 21st minute. Raines was at the center of the action, picking up a yellow card in the 44th minute for a tactical foul.

Despite some heated moments — including hard tackles exchanged between Pedro Martins and Pablo Ortiz, and a steady stream of midfield skirmishes — the first half ended in a stalemate, both sides frustrated by tight marking and erratic finishing.

Second Half: Dynamo Break Through

After a goalless first half, Houston Dynamo FC came out with renewed purpose. Head coach Ben Olsen made a key tactical adjustment at halftime, introducing Felipe Andrade for Pablo Ortiz to solidify the defense and releasing more freedom for the attacking midfielders to push forward.

The breakthrough came in the 64th minute. Jack McGlynn — excellent all night from dead-ball situations — found space in the right half-space and, with a curling left-footed strike, beat Michael Collodi to the middle-left portion of the goal. With an xG of just 2%, it was a moment of brilliance and precision. The goal ignited the visiting bench and silenced Toyota Stadium.

Dallas scrambled to respond. Luciano Acosta and Logan Farrington tested the Houston defense, but the Dynamo stood firm. Femi Awodesu and Brooklyn Raines were particularly sharp, blocking shots in quick succession in the 79th minute. Farrington and Anderson Julio tried to penetrate from wide and central areas, but their efforts were routinely denied or deflected.

Just when Dallas looked to build pressure, Houston struck again. In the 81st minute, Toyosi Olusanya made a marauding run down the right and squared the ball to Griffin Dorsey, who calmly slotted home with his left foot into the bottom left corner. It was a fluid move that exposed Dallas's defensive disorganization, and with an xG of 14%, Dorsey’s finish was a reward for Houston’s attacking intent.

Late Frustrations and Disciplinary Issues

The final minutes devolved into a flurry of fouls, yellow cards, and desperate attempts from the home side to salvage pride. Osaze Urhoghide and Pedro Martins were both booked for reckless challenges as frustration mounted. Acosta, increasingly agitated, received a yellow for dissent, and tempers flared between him and Franco Escobar, who also went into the book.

Despite several late chances — including two blocked efforts from Farrington in added time and a stinging long-range strike from Acosta — Dallas couldn't find a way past Bond or the resolute Houston backline. Collodi denied Olusanya at the other end in the 90th minute to prevent further damage, but the damage had already been done.

Key Players:

• Jack McGlynn (Houston) – Controlled the tempo in midfield and scored a brilliant opener.

• Griffin Dorsey (Houston) – Provided the assist for McGlynn and scored the insurance goal himself.

• Brooklyn Raines (Houston) – Relentless in both attack and defense, making critical interventions throughout.

• Luciano Acosta (Dallas) – Tried to make things happen but ultimately contained and frustrated.

Final Statistics:

• Possession: FC Dallas 51% – 49% Houston

• Shots (On Target): Dallas 15 (6) – Houston 11 (5)

• Expected Goals (xG): Dallas 0.88 – Houston 1.14

• Corners: Dallas 7 – Houston 5

• Fouls Committed: Dallas 16 – Houston 17

• Yellow Cards: Dallas 4 – Houston 3

Conclusion:

Houston Dynamo FC proved the more composed and clinical side in this fiercely contested rivalry clash. Their tactical discipline, efficient counter-attacking, and timely finishing earned them a well-deserved victory over a frustrated and often disjointed FC Dallas side. With this win, the Dynamo not only secure bragging rights in Texas but also gain crucial momentum in the Western Conference playoff race. Dallas, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly as they look to bounce back from a disappointing home defeat.