HOUSTON — In two games on the job, FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman is learning how to experiment with his team.
It still hasn’t produced a win.Hyndman’s 4-5-1 formation wasn’t exactly working against the Houston Dynamo in the first half, producing only one shot on goal. After halftime, Hyndman switched to a 3-5-2, subbed in forward Dominic Oduro and saw forward Kenny Cooper score a header for a 1-1 draw.Dallas is winless in seven regular-season games in Houston, but takes this season’s "El Capitan" cannon over the Dynamo based on away goals scored in three draws.Cooper tied the score in the 62nd minute. He broke loose about 8 yards from the goal for a header from midfielder Juan Toja, who was streaking down the left side of the field about 20 yards away."I thought that Juan was going to go down for a foul, but he found me for a great cross and I headed it right in," Cooper said. Dallas’ only real chance at a goal in the first half came when Cooper broke free for a one-on-one with Houston defender Bobby Boswell. Cooper lost possession, and the offense was stagnant for the rest of the half.Hyndman’s adjustment worked, but didn’t turn out to be enough. Once Oduro entered the game as the second forward, Cooper kept finding chances to get open and Dallas kept getting the ball downfield."We were looking for Oduro to bring pure, electric speed," Hyndman said. "He really put Houston back on their tails, and we got plenty more chances to attack."Oduro led the attack late in the second half and had multiple chances to win the game in the final minutes, including one run on which he was tripped near the goal. "I thought that might have been a foul inside the box," Hyndman said. "I’m not saying that might have been a penalty kick, but it might have been a tendency to how physical the game was."Four yellow cards were pulled during the game, including a double-yellow card when Dallas midfielder Marcelo Saragosa and Houston forward Dwayne De Rosario were carded after a collision."I thought it was incredibly physical, but, then again, I’ve only been here for two games," Hyndman joked.ONLINE: fcdallas.netBrad Gray, 817-390-7760
