Houston Dynamo FC is set to face off against FC Dallas this Saturday, May 17, in a highly anticipated Texas Derby matchup as part of MLS Rivalry Week. The match will take place at Toyota Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Fans can catch the action via the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
The Dynamo are riding high following a midweek 2-0 victory over Minnesota United FC at Shell Energy Stadium, where defenders Felipe Andrade and Pablo Ortiz made headlines by scoring their first MLS goals in their inaugural starts. This impressive achievement not only secured the team their fifth clean sheet of the season but also for Andrade, who earned recognition on the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday.
Historically, Wednesday’s match was significant as it marks the second instance in the club’s history where two players scored during their first MLS starts, a feat last accomplished on April 6, 2008, against FC Dallas by Geoff Cameron and Franco Caraccio.
Regarding the lineup for Saturday’s clash, defenders Franco Escobar and Femi Awodesu will play after serving suspensions. Escobar returns following a two-match ban for yellow card accumulation and a red card received in a previous match against LAFC, while Awodesu is back after a suspension for his red card against Seattle Sounders FC.
On the other hand, FC Dallas currently occupies the tenth position in the Western Conference standings with 16 points, sporting a 4-4-4 record. They’ve struggled recently, securing just one win in their last six matches, during which they posted a record of 1-2-3. Dallas comes into this rivalry matchup after a 1-1 draw at home against Real Salt Lake, where Anderson Julio equalized the score with a goal in the 53rd minute. Peter Musa continues to be a key player for Dallas, contributing three goals and assists so far this season.
As the two teams prepare for their 56th encounter in all competitions, Dallas holds a marginal historical edge with a 16-13-20 record against Houston in regular season matchups. Notably, Pat Onstad, the club’s President of Soccer and a former goalkeeper, still holds the record for the most victories in the Texas Derby with seven.
This upcoming match presents an exciting opportunity for both teams to claim bragging rights in one of MLS’s fiercest rivalries, and fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be a thrilling contest.