Category: MLS

Houston Dynamo, MLSLeave a comment

Houston Dynamo destroy Atlanta United-Three observations and photos

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The Houston Dynamo opened the 2018 MLS season with a 4-0 destruction of Atlanta United on a pleasant overcast Saturday afternoon at BBVA Compass Stadium. Three observations after watching the match in Houston yesterday First:  Alberth Elis is pretty good I can only remember one other time when a Dynamo attacking player made as much of an impact, without scoring a goal, as Alberth Elis did yesterday.  That would be in August of 2012 when Macoumba Kandji ran up and down the left side all day, terrorizing Heath Pearce and the New York Red Bulls in a 2-0 victory.  That … Continue reading Houston Dynamo destroy Atlanta United-Three observations and photos

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

FC Dallas, MLS2 Comments

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

Austin F.C., MLS, USL Championship3 Comments

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

Houston Dynamo, MLS4 Comments

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

Amateur, Austin F.C., MLS, USL Championship7 Comments

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

FC Dallas, MLS8 Comments

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

FC Dallas, MLS, Youth10 Comments

Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#10 FC Dallas Youth win the Dallas Cup U19 Super Group Championship

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The Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup played every Spring on fields throughout the Metroplex is the most prestigious youth tournament played in the United States every year.  Because of the large number of international teams that travel to play, it is also one of the most highly regarded in the world. The U-19 Gordon Jago Super Group is the most competitive bracket in the Dallas Cup tournament that ranges in age from U13-U19.  Though the Dallas Cup has been played every year since its founding in 1980, the U19 Super Group category began competition in 1990.  Nine countries have won this … Continue reading Top 10 2017 Texas Soccer Stories-#10 FC Dallas Youth win the Dallas Cup U19 Super Group Championship

FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, MLSLeave a comment

Favorite Texas 2017 Tifos

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Tomorrow I will begin rolling out Texas Soccer Journal’s picks of the Top 10 Texas soccer stories of 2017.  Before beginning the countdown, one final post (this one about tifos) in the “favorites” series I have shared over the last week. If you missed them, here are links to the previous posts in the series: https://txsoccerjournal.com/2017/12/12/favorite-2017-texas-goal-s-save-and-comeback-of-the-year/ https://txsoccerjournal.com/2017/12/13/favorite-texas-soccer-media-of-2017/ https://txsoccerjournal.com/2017/12/15/2017-texas-soccer-player-and-coach-of-the-year-professional-high-level-amateur-college-and-youth-teams-of-the-year/ Favorite 2017 Tifos I freely admit that I am not a Tifo scientist.  These masterpieces by Supporters Groups are something that unfortunately bypassed my generation.  I do like a good one though and I wanted to share a couple that I enjoyed … Continue reading Favorite Texas 2017 Tifos

Amateur, College Soccer, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, MASL Arena Soccer, MLS, National Soccer Hall of Fame, NWSL (Houston Dash), USL Championship, Youth11 Comments

Other Key Texas Soccer stories of 2017

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Next week I will roll out my choices for the Top 10 Texas soccer stories of 2017.  In compiling this list, it became apparent that there were far more than ten stories, both positive and adverse, that should be recognized.  This “other stories” list is certainly not comprehensive.  In a state as big as Texas it is hard to stay on top of everything that happens in the soccer landscape.  If there is anything I have missed after the Top 10 next week, please let me know and I will correct any obvious misses. Positive stories (in no particular order) … Continue reading Other Key Texas Soccer stories of 2017