Any time a team blows out its biggest rival in a derby game it's going to be fun for both players and fans. That was certainly the case on Sunday when FC Dallas scored the most goals they ever have in one game against Houston Dynamo winning 5-1.

Let's break it down.

Lineups and Tactics

FC Dallas in the 4-3-3 with a couple of small tactical shift. First, Brandon Servania started for Paxton Pomykal along with a shift to a traditional 6-8-10 midfield set up rather than the 6-8-8 of recent games. Second, Zdenek Ondrasek got the start at the 9 allowing Dom Badji to move to the left wing.

FC Dallas starting XI vs Houston Dynamo. (8-25-19) (FCD / FC Dallas)

Pomykal came off the bench for Badji in the 69th minute playing left wing and then swapping to right wing and finally an 8-type central mid. Ricardo Pepi spelled Ondrasek in the 83rd minute in a straight swap. And lastly, Bressan came on for Jesus Ferreira in the 89th minute going to right back and moving Reggie Cannon - yes, really - to right wing, which is when Pomykal moved to central mid.

Houston Dynamo played a 4-2-3-1 type shape under new coach Davy Arnaud.

The Houston Dunamo starting XI at FC Dallas. (8-2-19) (MLS / MLS)

Newly acquired striker Christian Ramirez came on for Tomás Martínez in the 54th minute as Houston looked for offense. Memo Rodríguez replaced Tommy McNamara in the 65th minute. And finally, Darwin Cerén replaced Matías Vera in the 80th minute.

Goals

1-0 FC Dallas goal. 24th minute. Reto Ziegler PK. He goes the opposite way of the last one he took and scores. Dom Baji wanted to take it, but Ziegler is the PK taker on this team.

The Penalty - Dom Baji earns the PK when he's dragged down the box by Jose Bizama. Nice job by Badji getting body position.

2-0 FC Dallas goal. 29th minute. This is a gorgeous goal all the way around. Jesus Ferreira carries from midfield and then with a sublime piece of individual skill roasts Aljaz Struna. Bonus points for the fantastic layoff pass by Zdenek Ondrasek in the FCD half of the field.

3-0 FC Dallas goal. 56th minute. The route is on. Zdenek Ondrasek, who has put himself into a terrific position for the Ryan Hollingshead cross, bangs in the goal. Good team execution.

4-0 FC Dallas goal. 64th minute. Zdenek Ondrasek with the brace. Dom Badji with the pace to blow past his defender crosses to Ondrasek who is crashing hard toward the near post. Great Badji move to create and great Ondrasek work to get to the ball.

4-1 Houston Dynamo goal. 80th minute. 2nd-half sub Memo Rodriguez. Houston digs the ball out of the corner with a high press and they quickly transition and score.

5-1 FC Dallas goal. 96th minute. This one is all Michael Barrios and fighting to the whistle. Barrios beats a man, losses the ball, Houston D doesn't clear it, Barrios gets it back, and scores.

El Bueno

Let's be frank (Hi Frank!), when you beat up an arch-rival 5-1 everything is going to come up smelling like roses. Rather than just listing every player on FCD I'm going to highlight some changes and notes of interest.

Man of the Match for me was Jesus Ferreira. He was the difference-maker playing as an off-striker type 10 - just like his dad, FCD legend David Ferreira - particularly in the first half when FCD put the game away. 49 touches, 79% passing (lowest for FCD but that's ok in a player attacking the final third), 1 shot on goal, 1 goal, 1 key pass... but the important bit were the three successful dribbles you can see right up the middle into the gap of the defense (the three triangles). That's something Ferreira has been missing we've been talking since he moved into midfield. Big step forward by the 18-year-old. Big game, big performance.

Jesus Ferreira's passing, shooting, and dribbling chart against Houston Dynamo. (8-25-19) (MLS / MLS)

And Ferreira's all-touch video by Austin Banks (@MisterKranks).

Honorable mention to Zdenek Ondrasek who did what a 9 is supposed to do and scored goals. Only 22 touches, I'd love to see more but that's not on him. 5 shots, excellent, but only 2 on goal. SOG could be better as two of his shots were way wide, including the point-blank opportunity for the hat trick that was an early-season Ondrasek type miss. But still, strikers are paid to score and he did. He's earned the start again against FC Cincinnati with this performance. 4 Aerials won is an improvement too.

What can I say [about] Cobra? Two goals. That is a player that was not getting opportunities frequently at the beginning of the season, even midseason, but he always had respect for the team. He worked and adapted and any minute that he's been getting recently, he has earned and he is taking advantage of it at this moment. - Luchi Gonzalez

I thought this might have been Dominic Badji's best game yet for FCD. I like him so much better as a wing where he can run at people just like he did on the assist above. His best trait is his straight-line speed to run past people. 3 key passes! 3 Aerials won, 80% passing, 3 crosses, drew 2 fouls. He played some defense too with a tackle, a clearance, and an intercept.

Also, Ondrasek and Badji are apparently buddies.

Everyone loves this sweet guy. He is so sweet. Everyone here loves him, and he told me he is a nine, but as long as you play, I'll be working for you and for your goals and he did it today, so I'm very happy with that. I hope I will pay him back someday, maybe next weekend if I get the chance to play. Yeah, he is a great guy, I love to hang out with him, and everyone loves him here. - Zdenek Ondrasek

Interesting to see FCD Coach Luchi Gonzalez mix up the tactics a bit. Still a 4-3-3 but this time the traditional 6-8-10 shape with Servania (see average position chart below #s 8, 18, and 27) while reducing Pomykal's workload by coming off the bench. Good to get Paxton Pomykal some rest. He's still dealing with some hamstring discomfort that isn't keeping him out but he needs a bit of a lighter load, particularly with so much talk he might get involved in the early September US senior side friendly against Uruguay.

The FC Dallas average player position chart against Houston Dunamo. (8-25-19) (Whoscored.com)

Speaking of Brandon Servania, he too had an excellent game. I talked about him in training this week, how well he's been performing in both training and games, and that form carried over into this one. He's added an edge, a decisiveness. 96% passing! 3 shots, 1 on goal (those 2 misses from long range the only real blip on his chart), 4 tackles, 2 interceptions.

Brandon Servania's passing and shooting chart against Houston Dynamo. (8-25-19) (MLS / MLS)

I also liked the tweak of having Badji cheat inside toward Ondrasek opening each flank more for Barrios. Ryan Hollingshead did an excellent job of overloading into space on the left when Barrios was right with 6 successful dribbles out of 10 and 3 crosses. Reggie Cannon didn't take advantage as well, but Barrios spent more time on his side. I liked it conceptually and with more time this could really pay dividends.

Congratulations Jesse Gonzalez on your 250th career save.

7 shots on goal out of 14 is excellent. FCD is continuing their better shooting form of late. This is all still full Luchi-Ball. 60% possession, 90% passing, 532 passes.

One of our best games in terms of efficiency: efficiency around the box, in the box, getting numbers in the box and getting service. - Luchi Gonzalez

The supporter's section TIFO was fantastic.

El Camino del Medio

Jesus Ferreira had a second goal in this game called back by VAR. Ricardo Pepi was ruled offside on the play of the checking back variety. Boo! Correct call, but boo! Great pass into the box by Pomykal and a very clear trap and shot by Ferreira.

Muy Feo

I was able to come up with a negative after thinking back to my tweets during the game. Perhaps I'm a bit more cynical than most, but...

I would have liked for Bryan Acosta to get himself a yellow card late in the game. Perhaps via the persistent infringement rule? You see, Acosta is sitting on the "suspended with their next yellow card" list. FC Cincinnati this Saturday would be a great game to have Acosta be suspended and give Edwin Cerrillo a start thus ensuring Acosta would be available for the more difficult two road games in mid-September at Chicago and at Seattle.

Next Game

FC Dallas hosts expansion team FC Cincinnati for the first time in franchise history. Old friends Victor Ulloa and Roland Lamah both play for FCC.

Hey @iamdavidaccam you lose a stud? I think I have it...I’ll keep an eye on it for you! #Hellisreal pic.twitter.com/JgfsRByZ3y — Victor Ulloa (@ulloa_victor) August 12, 2019