Author: txsoccerjournal

FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, MLS, Texas Soccer HistoryLeave a comment

2017 10/20/50 year Texas Soccer Milestones

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A 1967 Houston, Texas match that was described as the First ever Indoor/Outdoor Soccer Game played in the World In the final post of my 2017 review of the year in Texas soccer, I will discuss significant milestone memorable soccer events that occurred 10, 20 and 50 years ago in the State’s relatively short soccer history: 10 Years Ago: Houston Dynamo win second consecutive MLS Cup Houston Dynamo defeated the New England Revolution for a second consecutive year to win MLS Cup in Washington D.C.’s RFK Stadium on November 18, 2007.  The setting was quite different than the year before … Continue reading 2017 10/20/50 year Texas Soccer Milestones

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Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#1 A 9,700 seat soccer specific stadium opens in the Rio Grande Valley

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I have been following soccer in the United States for 43 years.  Every year without failure (especially every 4 years when the World Cup comes around), there will be some sort of discussion about when soccer will arrive or make it in the United States.  This discussion will then usually be followed by a fossil journalist (or many of them) who, in their once every four years soccer article, will drag out the tired and tedious “joke” about how soccer is the sport of the future…and it always will be. Please allow me to provide a reason why we should … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#1 A 9,700 seat soccer specific stadium opens in the Rio Grande Valley

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Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#2 FC Dallas’s mystifying meltdown

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How does one explain FC Dallas’s (FCD) 2017 season.  I certainly can’t and many who cover the team on a daily basis seem mystified and dumbstruck by the whole thing too. At the beginning of the year, FC Dallas was one of the elite journalist and “punters” (sorry I get a kick out of that England phrase) choices to win MLS Cup.  Why not?  The team won the 2016 Supporters Shield and likely would have been a top choice to win MLS Cup without the crushing late season injury to game changing creative midfielder Mauro Diaz.  Entering the 2017 season … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#2 FC Dallas’s mystifying meltdown

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Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#3 Professional Soccer in Austin Becomes Very Popular

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Austin Aztex 2015 ATX Pro Challenge Trophy-dubbed the “Best. Trophy. Ever.” by the Washington Post after DC United won this tournament.  (mlssoccer.com) Austin professional soccer remained nothing more than a dream into the middle of the year.  After USL’s Austin Aztex went on hiatus at the end of the 2015 season, since there were no acceptable stadium options, no professional or even high level amateur teams remained in the ATX metro area.  That all changed in a huge way in the second half of the year and inserted Austin straight into the middle of a nation-wide battle over the “soul” … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#3 Professional Soccer in Austin Becomes Very Popular

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Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#4 Houston Dynamo turnaround leads to Western Conference Finals

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It is still hard to believe that I was part of a sellout crowd above at BBVA Compass Stadium for the first leg of the MLS Western Conference Finals.  Heading into the 2017 season, three straight years out of the playoffs, a last place 2016 conference record and boring play had created a combined sense of disgust and apathy among the fan base.  Season ticket sales were down significantly and many games late in 2016 were played in basically empty stadiums.  There was a belief that new signings brought in during the offseason would improve the results from the absolute … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#4 Houston Dynamo turnaround leads to Western Conference Finals

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Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#5 CONCACAF Gold Cup descends on Texas-Dempsey ties record

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United States celebrate semifinal victory over Costa Rica in Arlington-July 22 The 2017 iteration (the 14th) of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, a tournament played every two years to crown the confederation champion, was won by the United States when they defeated Jamaica 2-1 in Santa Clara, CA on July 26. Leading up to the final, Texas played a huge part of this tournament, hosting more than a quarter of the total games played, in four different venues around the state (the only state to host in four different stadiums): July 11 in Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium:  Group A matches: Canada … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#5 CONCACAF Gold Cup descends on Texas-Dempsey ties record

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Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#6 San Antonio FC’s defense leads club to first playoff win

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San Antonio FC (SAFC), in only its second year as a USL franchise, produced a superb 17-4-11 record (62 points and a +21 goal differential) in the USL regular season, finishing in second place in the Western Conference.  The club then won its first playoff game in history when they defeated Tulsa Roughnecks in the opening round.  Unfortunately the season came to end the next weekend when the club suffered a heartbreaking loss in penalties to OKC Energy.  The early end to the season can’t take away from the outstanding 2017 performance, which included a 14 game unbeaten streak to … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#6 San Antonio FC’s defense leads club to first playoff win

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Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#7 Midland-Odessa NPSL final run highlights rapid Non-League soccer growth

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2017 was a breakthrough year for Non-League soccer in Texas and 2018 promises more explosive growth.  At the end of the 2016 season there were 6 soccer clubs playing throughout Texas in one high level (Tier 4) USASA Adult Amateur National soccer league, the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).  2017 started the expansion process rolling as the Premier Development League (PDL) reentered Texas.  The 2017 Texas Non-League season was capped by the extraordinary playoff run of Midland-Odessa FC, who had also recently been to a national semifinal in the PDL, that fell just short of a championship.  The team overcame … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#7 Midland-Odessa NPSL final run highlights rapid Non-League soccer growth

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Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#8 FC Dallas CONCACAF Champions League run

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FC Dallas (FCD) was a few minutes away from taking eventual ScotiaBank CONCACAF Champions League (CCL) winner Pachuca to added extra-time in Mexico in the early April semifinal.  Unfortunately a last minute goal by Pachuca put an end to FCD’s dreams of being the first United States club to capture the CCL crown, which was in its ninth year of competition in this format. Regardless of the loss, FC Dallas achieved a club milestone by reaching the semifinal round.  FCD was one of four U.S. qualifiers for the 2016-17 tournament, as a result of their 2015 MLS regular season best … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#8 FC Dallas CONCACAF Champions League run

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Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#9 Tumultuous season for the Houston Dash

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It was a very interesting year for the Houston Dash-unfortunately for disappointing reasons.  Heading into the 2017 season the Dash were seeking their first National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) playoff appearance, after not qualifying in each of the first three years of the clubs existence. The season started with much promise.  Head coach Randy Waldrum had been given a new one-year contract extension and added responsibilities, after General Manager Brian Ching quietly left that position in the offseason.  The players and staff openly talked about improved communication and changes on multiple levels to the team, that were surfaced during end … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#9 Tumultuous season for the Houston Dash