FRISCO, Texas (Feb. 11, 2026) — FC Dallas saw its preseason unbeaten run tested Wednesday night, falling 2–1 to Houston Dynamo FC in its penultimate match of the inaugural Torneo de Tejas at Toyota Stadium. Despite a second-half equalizer from midfielder Patrickson Delgado, Houston struck late to claim the rivalry victory and hand Dallas its first loss of the 2026 preseason.
The match carried the familiar edge of an in-state showdown, with both sides using the occasion to sharpen competitive details ahead of the MLS regular season. Houston capitalized on a set-piece opportunity late in the first half, while Dallas showed resilience and attacking intent after the break before conceding the decisive goal in the closing minutes.
Houston opened the scoring in the 44th minute, converting a free kick that broke through an otherwise organized Dallas defensive effort. The service was driven into a dangerous area and found its way past goalkeeper Michael Collodi, giving the visitors a 1–0 advantage just before halftime and momentarily silencing the home crowd.
Dallas emerged from the interval with renewed urgency, pushing numbers forward and testing Houston’s back line with quicker ball movement and improved spacing. That pressure paid off in the 64th minute when Delgado leveled the match with a composed finish, capping one of Dallas’ most fluid attacking sequences of the night.
Rookie Ricky Louis played a pivotal role in the equalizer, showcasing both confidence and creativity. Louis sliced through the Dynamo defense, dribbling past the goalkeeper before calmly squaring the ball across the face of goal. Delgado arrived in stride and buried his shot into the bottom-left corner, restoring parity and injecting momentum back into Dallas’ performance.
The equalizer appeared to swing control toward the hosts, who continued to probe for a go-ahead goal. Dallas generated several promising moments in transition, with Julio Anderson and Petar Musa providing movement up front and Ramiro orchestrating play from midfield. However, Houston remained compact defensively and patient in its buildup, waiting for another opportunity to strike.
That moment arrived in the 80th minute. Houston delivered a cross from outside the box that found its target at the back post, where a well-timed header slipped past Collodi to reclaim the lead. The late goal proved decisive, as Dallas was unable to find a second equalizer in the closing stages despite sustained pressure.
The match featured extensive rotation from head coach Eric Quill, consistent with preseason objectives. Dallas’ first starting XI included Collodi in goal behind a back line of Álvaro, Lalas Abubakar, and Nolan Norris, with Delgado, Ramiro (captain), and Ricky Louis anchoring the midfield. The second group saw continued experimentation, with Josh Torquato, Sam Sarver, Kaick, and Nick Simmonds earning minutes as Dallas evaluated depth and chemistry.
Despite the setback, FC Dallas remains in strong preseason form, now sitting at 4-1-0 while scoring 16 goals and conceding just five. The loss serves as a timely reminder of areas to fine-tune before competitive play begins, particularly in defending set pieces and late-game situations.
Dallas will close Torneo de Tejas play this Saturday, Feb. 14, hosting Atlanta United FC at Toyota Stadium with kickoff set for 12 p.m. CT. The focus then shifts quickly to the MLS regular season, which opens next Saturday, Feb. 21, when FC Dallas welcomes Toronto FC in a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff presented by CoServ.
With preseason lessons now in hand, FC Dallas will look to sharpen its edge and enter the regular season prepared to turn promise into points.
