Houston Dynamos was a U.S. soccer team which existed in various forms from 1983 to 1991. In 1991, the team’s owners changed the name to Houston International, but the team lasted only through the 1992 season before folding.
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In 1983, the United Soccer League (USL) was formed after the second American Soccer League (ASL) folded that year. The ASL had served as the de-facto U.S. second division for decades, but collapsed due to overexpansion and financial insolvency. The USL intended to avoid this fate by creating a lean, financially responsible league. In 1984, the league began play with nine teams in three regional divisions. The Houston Dynamos joined the Oklahoma City Stampede and Dallas Americans in the Western Division. The Dynamos gained a significant boost when it signed José Neto. Houston finished third in the league, but second in its division. In the wild card game, the Dynamos defeated the Dallas Americans. In the semifinals, they defeated the Oklahoma City Stampede two games to none. Their run ended in the championship, when they lost 3-0 to the Fort Lauderdale Sun in the third, and deciding, game of the series.
In 1985, the Dynamos chose not to return to the USL for the league’s second season when it became apparent the league would not survive. Despite the league’s attempt at financial austerity, it indeed folded eight games into the 1985 season. Having forsaken the USL, the Dynamos played an exhibition schedule as an independent team. [1]
In 1987, the Dynamos entered a newly established league, the Lone Star Soccer Alliance. [2] [3] At the end of the 1990 season, the team ownership changed the team’s name to Houston International for the franchise's final season.
| Year | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | USL | 2nd, Western | Finals | Did not enter |
| 1985 | Independent | “N/A” | “N/A” | Did not qualify |
| 1986 | Independent | “N/A” | “N/A” | Did not qualify |
| 1987 | LSSA | 2nd | Finals | Did not enter |
| 1988 | LSSA | 2nd | Finals | Did not enter |
| 1989 | LSSA | 3rd | Semifinals | Did not enter |
| 1990 | LSSA | 4th, Southern | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1991 | LSSA | 3rd, Southern | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
MVP
Coach of the Year
Executive of the Year