Bounce Back: FC Dallas is looking to bounce back against in-state rivals Austin FC this Saturday after a disappointing 3-1 loss in Toronto last weekend. The defeat was FCD’s sixth of the young season which saw the club drop to 13th place in the Western Conference. There was a glimmer of hope towards the end of the game in Toronto, though. Substitute Jesús Ferreira (who’s working his way back from a muscle injury) delivered an assist to Sam Junqua for FCD’s consolation goal after combining cleverly with Dante Sealy in Toronto’s box. It was an indication that Ferreira is getting back into the swing of things, something Dallas desperately needs. And while the goal didn’t affect the result, it’s at least something to build on as Dallas looks to respond against Austin FC at home.
Copa Tejas: FC Dallas is preparing for its third Copa Tejas match of the season. Copa Tejas is the fan-driven, regular season competition between Dallas, Austin and Houston and it’s decided by whichever team earns the highest point per game (PPG) in matches against one another (three points for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss). Austin currently leads Copa Tejas with 3.0 PPG having defeated both Dallas and Houston in their initial meetings. Dallas, on the hand, is averaging 1.5 PPG in Copa Tejas after its 2-0 win over Houston. FCD can join Austin FC at the top of the Copa Tejas leader board with a win over its I-35 rival this Saturday (both would be at 2.0 PPG with two Copa Tejas wins and one loss).
Fortress Frisco: While Austin FC enters Saturday’s match in better form, history is on FC Dallas’ side. Dallas has never lost against Austin at Toyota Stadium and has won three of the four all-time meetings there (the clubs played to a draw in 2022). Last season, Dallas defeated ATX in dramatic fashion thanks to a late, late Nkosi Tafari header in the south end of Toyota Stadium. Considering Dallas was defeated on its trip to Austin’s Q2 Stadium earlier this year, Nico Estévez’s team would love to get some revenge at their home this time around.
