What is the most memorable Brimstone Cup moment?
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Fight! Fight! Fight for the shirt! If a Dallas player hears that supporter chant, it means the team is in dire straits. On July 15, 2006, I remember our traveling supporters shouting that exact chant -- and for good reason.
On a scorching summer afternoon, FC Dallas had traveled to play the Chicago Fire in the second leg of the Brimstone Cup. Toyota Park had been open for only a handful of games, and we wanted nothing more than to secure a win and claim a trophy for those who had made the trip north. What we didn’t realize was just how tall of an order it would be on that day.
PURCHASE
TICKETS: FC Dallas vs. Chicago Fire, March 19 at 7:30 pm
After Ramon Nunez scored to give us the lead, we expected to push for a second goal to insure victory. But Andy Herron had different plans, as he pulled one back for the home side. The heat, travel and busy month of June had begun to rear its ugly head as we headed to the locker room at halftime, tied 1-1. A subdued locker room atmosphere had all of us wondering what was to come in the second half. We knew Chicago was just as tired as we were -- they had just played Club America three days prior. But when the half resumed it was Chicago who again came out with a purpose, and again it was Herron who put the game in doubt for the visiting team. The 2-1 scoreline in favor of Chicago was looking bleak.
With more than thirty minutes remaining, I remember looking around the field at my teammates and wondering how on earth we were going to fight our way back into the game. With on-field temperatures in the 120s, I had never felt so terrible during a professional match.
With ringing ears and blurry vision I remember only this: "Fight! Fight! Fight for the shirt!"
In a game that became open as time wore on, we found an equalizer on a counter attack to tie it at 2-2. We celebrated in the corner with our fans and pounded their drums in a moment of relief. With less than 15 minutes to play we suddenly felt that perhaps we could steal all three points -- and we did just that. The final score was 3-2, FC Dallas.
The Fire were gutted. We didn’t deserve to win that game, but we had found a way. The traveling supporters played a huge role in that come-from-behind victory. We celebrated in the locker room and traded stories about who felt worse during that game. The adversity that we had persevered through together was forever binding. The win cemented a unity that was felt by players and fans alike.
In the history of the Brimstone Cup there have been games that were more fiercely contested than that one. But for me, July 16, 2006 was the most memorable.
Stories like that one are what make up the history of the rivalry, and are part of the tradition that is played out between supporters of both clubs. As Major League Soccer enters its 16th season, the evolution of supporter culture and tradition has helped the game reach new heights.
Over the years as the stories and traditions deepen, this trophy will remain a significant reminder of how much the game has grown in this country, and I for one will forever be grateful for having been a part of it.