EL CAPITAN
The Texas Derby is a soccer rivalry (derby) between Texas's two MLS teams, FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo, recognizing the best club in the state for the season.
The two squads play a series of games with the series winner taking home El Capitán, a replica 18th century mountain howitzer cannon. Although since conference re-alignment the award has been decided by a single game.
The Houston Dynamo clinched the 2006 series with a win on August 12, 2006 and the 2007 series with a win on August 19, 2007. FC Dallas claimed the 2008 series on the away goals rule, having tied with Dynamo in all three games played that season.
FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo battle it out every year for the best and most distinct “trophy” among MLS rivalries. No matter the sport, Houston and Dallas rival for supremacy in the state of Texas and when the Dynamo relocated to the Space City, an instant rivalry was born which necesitated that the clubs go big with the trophy.
It was the brainchild of the FC Dallas front office to go out and purchase the Civil War-era Howitzer, buying the cannon from a man in Missouri and bringing it back to Frisco. But in the early years of the rivalry, the cannon sat dormant – little more than a marketing gimmick.
Houston kept possession during the first two years of the rivalry, and “El Capitan” had a fairly permanent home down south. But the Dynamo, playing at Robertson Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston, were by law not allowed to fire the cannon, relegating it to a corner of the stadium out of sight. It was only when FC Dallas won it in 2008, fairly bizarrely on away goals, that the howitzer began to take on a life of its own.
Dallas prominently displayed “El Capitan” on the stage at FC Dallas Stadium, and went through the local fire department to get a front-office employee authorized to fire the cannon. They took full advantage of the new toy, shooting it off after every goal and every win. While there are certainly historic rivalry trophies around the league such as the Cascadia Cup and the Rocky Mountain Cup, only the cannon can be used year-round as a reminder of who is on top in the regional rivalry.
Perhaps having seen their rivals to the north fire it off one too many times, Houston wouldn’t make the same mistake in their new stadium. The move of the Dynamo to BBVA Compass Stadium turned the tide in the importance of “El Capitan” to the Houston faithful.
Having won the cannon in 2011 on a late Geoff Cameron goal in Frisco, the Dynamo secured a permit in early 2012 to fire the howitzer in their new stadium, integrating the trophy into their game-day experience. It became a BBVA Compass Stadium tradition to wheel the cannon to the middle of the field before every game and have a Dynamo celebrity shoot “El Capitan” off before kick off – similar to our FC Dallas' tradition of scarfing the Lamar Hunt statue.
The Dynamo tradition didn't last for long as FC Dallas had a little "Luck 'O" the Irish" on Saint Patrick's Day 2013 when they beat the Dynamo 3-2 in front of a motivated, and what is thought, one of Dallas' loudest crowds ever to bring El Capitan back to the civilized part of Texas.
The Dallas Supporters make no secret of their dislike of all things Houston & orange, and vow to keep El Capitan where it belongs.
If you are wondering just what we sing and chant at the Texas Derby, just download the Houston Songs/ Chants page by clicking the link below.
History of the Rivalry
El Capitan Wins: Dallas 4 - Houston 5
Top Moments in El Capitan History
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2 – Ugo Ihemelu Wins "El Capitán" for Dallas
May 5, 2010 – one of the proudest moments for FC Dallas in the history of the rivalry, Schellas Hyndman’s men were down to 10 men (take a wild guess at who got sent off... yep, Jair Benitez) at Robertson Stadium with 15 minutes to play in a scoreless game. Then Ugo Ihemelu scored a late winner to give FCD the franchise’s only win in Houston and first outright win of the “El Capitán” cannon.
The 50 or so FC Dallas Supporters present sounded like 50,000 as they chanted the whole way from the stadium back to their bus and cars. Houston fans were so outraged by the loss that some resorted to violence against the FCD Supporters and a police escort was called for to get FCD safely back on board.
The songs and chants about Houston and their less than friendly supporters echoed throughout their awful stadium!
7 – Jair Benítez Red Cards
Do we really need to say more than Jair Benítez? The Colombian has been shown the red card twice in his career, playing against the Dynamo.
In 2010, the Colombian was ejected for elbowing Dynamo forward Luis Ángel Landín. Two years later, Benítez was shown red for violent conduct. His actions were not limited to regular season, however, as he was accused of spitting at Geoff Cameron in a preseason game in 2011.
“I think he is an unprofessional player,” Cameron told the Houston Chronicle after the 2011 match. “It’s just one of those things that he came up to me and it took me every ounce of my energy not to punch him in the face, hit him or retaliate. But I’m a better professional than he is. I just kind of turned my shoulder a little bit and shrugged it off.
It must be said that in the lead up to the "unprofessional action" by Jair, there was a lot of quite unsportsmanlike conduct from the Dynascum's Cameron... just watch the game to see what we mean.
6 – Dynamo Win a Thriller in First Texas Derby Match
May 6, 2006 – Even to this day, perhaps the best regular-season game between the rivals was the first-ever game played on May 6, 2006. The Dynamo jumped out to a 3-0 lead in a dream first half, but Dallas weren;t going to go quietly. FCD mounted a furious comeback as Carlos Ruiz and Ramón Núñez scored in back-to-back minutes early in the second half, sparking a wild finish. Dwayne De Rosario restored Houston’s two-goal advantage, but Drew Moor pulled one back in the 76th minute. Dallas, however, never found the equalizer in what was eventually a 4-3 Dynamo win.
4 – Ricardo Clark Kicks Carlos Ruiz
September 30, 2007 – In one of the most famous flashpoints in MLS history, Clark’s frustrations boiled over in the final minutes of Houston’s emphatic 3-0 win at FC Dallas Stadium. In the 88th minute of the match, Ruiz and Clark became tangled on a free kick, and the Dynamo midfielder eventually kicked Ruiz violently and saw red for his actions.
Clark was famously suspended for nine games, missing the Dynamo’s run to MLS Cup 2007 and fined $10,000.
Ruiz and Clark reconciled less than two weeks ago, swapping jerseys after the match between DC United and Houston.
3 – 2007 Playoff Battle
November 2, 2007 – Regardless of any other games or red cards, the playoffs always take precedence and the Texas rivals played a classic in their only playoff meeting. With FC Dallas leading 1-0 after the first leg, the Dynamo had some work to do, but a crowd of more than 30,000 showed up at Robertson Stadium in an electric playoff atmosphere.
FC Dallas quieted the crowd, however, with who else but Ruiz scoring in the 14th minute to put FCD up two goals on aggregate. As has been the case in many Dynamo comebacks in the series, however, cards played a role. FCD’s Arturo Alvarez saw red, giving Houston life.
Goals from Brian Ching and Stuart Holden sent the game into overtime. Ching and Brad Davis found the back of the net in the extra 30 minutes, giving the Dynamo bragging rights in a game that saw 10 yellow cards and two red cards.
5 - Kenny Cooper's 89th Minute Game Winner
March 17, 2013 – FC Dallas 3, Houston Dynamo 2. Kenny Cooper's (FC Dallas) left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Michel with a cross. This in front of our home crowd quieted the Dynastink fans in attendence at FC Dallas Stadium and assured El Capitan would be in good hands for another year with the Hoops.
This was extra special for FC Dallas fans as Kenny's return to the club was forseen as a portent of great things to come in 2013. All present will remember how sick we felt toward the end of the game looking at a 2-2 tie and the prospect of not winning the canon back. But Kenny's 89th minute goal sent Dallas faithful into a celebration frenzy that lastest the whole weekend for many.
Some Images We Thought You Would Like
1 – FC Dallas Crushes Houston 4-1 in Houston
April 5, 2014 – In a tremendous victory, FC Dallas travels to Houston and beats the Dynamo 4-1 to retain El Capitan for the second straight year. This is the first time FC Dallas ever beats Houston in Houston and puts an end to Houston's home town dominance.
First goal was via a PK as Houston brings Mauro Diaz down in the box. Michel steps up to make it 1-0. In a game that sees Houston down to 10 men after defender David Horst is red carded for a reckless tackle on Fabian Castillo, and the departure of USMNT regular Brad Davis with an injury, Houston just had no answer for the Hoops as Dallas powered on. Two goals from Jevaughn Watson and an own goal saw Dallas finish as 4-1 victors! A remarkable save by FCD Goalie Chris Seitz also added to our dominance in the game.
