One of FC Dallas' most frequent opponents over the last year isn't one you'd expect.
When FC Dallas and USL-affiliate OKC Energy FC meet at Westcott Field on Wednesday night in the Fourth Round of Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, it’ll be the fourth meeting in exactly one calendar year. Dallas has only faced one side, the Portland Timbers, more in the same span - with five games played, including a two-legged Western Conference Final last November. Let’s take a look back at the brief, but frequent history between the I-35 opponents:
June 16, 2015: FC Dallas 4, Energy FC 1
The two sides met for the first time in the Fourth Round of last year’s Open Cup in Ft. Worth on the TCU campus. Michael Barrios(34’, 36’) and David Texeira (21’, 51’) each notched a brace in a 4-1 Dallas victory, while 2015 USL MVP finalist Danni Konig picked up a late goal for OKC to avoid the clean sheet. FCD advanced to the Round of 16, where they fell to Sporting KC in a 6-2 decision in Kansas.
February 28, 2016: FC Dallas 2, Energy FC 1
Dallas and OKC kicked off their newly-minted USL affiliation agreement in February with a final preseason matchup at Energy FC’s Taft Stadium, just one week before the 2016 season opener. Atiba Harris shined in the performance with a goal and assist on SuperDraft pick Timo Pitter’s team-leading sixth goal of the preseason. Defender Zach Loyd put the ball in the back of his own net in the 27th minute to round out the scoring.
March 6, 2016: FC Dallas 2, Energy FC 1
Affiliates clashed again a week later as part of a season-opening double header at Toyota Stadium. The Dallas Reserves took on the Energy FC first team after 2-0 FCD first team result over Philadelphia. Then-trialist Agustin Jara picked up the opening goal in just the 4th of the match, but OKC leveled soon after in the 16th minute as Michael Byskov connected off a feed from the right side. The game stayed deadlocked until the 74th minute when Carlos Lizarazo converted a PK after Academy forward Weston McKennie was taken down inside the box.
