FC Dallas travels to Houston

HOUSTON, TEXAS — The Texas Derby finals take place this Saturday when FC Dallas heads south to take on Houston Dynamo FC.

Dallas is on a five-game unbeaten streak against Houston, having beaten them 2-0 in their last match at Toyota Stadium in late April. A red card five minutes into this match and goals from Petar Musa and Sebastien Ibeagha broke Dalass’ winless streak at the start of the season.

Head coach Nico Estévez said it will be “a new and different match this time”, given that a red card really changed things last time, considering how quickly it happened and depending on player availability this time: striker Paul Arriola is unlikely to return to play due to injury, while midfielder Sebastian Lletget has the potential to see the field again after his own injury.

Even more recent, two victories for FC Dallas: 2-1 against Austin FC, and before that, 1-0 against Memphis 901 FC in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

But things aren’t going so well for Houston. Dynamo has played four matches since the beginning of May: only one victory, 2-1 against Sporting Kansas City; a draw, 0-0 against Saint Louis CITY SC; and two losses, 1-0 to Austin FC just a few days ago, and one that went to overtime and penalties against Detroit City FC in the US Open Cup.

Houston’s return home this Saturday will conclude its own rivalry week, with this year’s Copa Tejas standings not even in favor of Houston who sits in last place having already lost once to FC Dallas and twice against Austin FC.

Dallas, on the other hand, who currently sits in second place, could join Austin at the top of the standings for now with a win this Saturday.

And if FC Dallas wins, it will keep El Capitán, a replica of a 19th-century cannon, at Toyota Stadium for a third straight season.

And for you die-hard Derby fans, that would mean keeping El Capitán in Frisco for the sixth time in the last seven years, which would be the most dominant period in Texas Derby history.

Kickoff at Shell Energy Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.