FRISCO — El Capitan will be back on the line this weekend in the next chapter of the Texas Derby as FC Dallas travels down to Houston to face the Dynamo. The trophy currently resides in Houston, but FC Dallas will look to gain crucial points in an effort to bring it back to Dallas. Saturday’s matchup will be the second straight game FCD will take on an opponent sitting just outside the playoff picture looking in. The Dynamo currently sit in seventh place in the Western Conference, just two points behind LA Galaxy for the last postseason spot.
A Potent Attack
Houston usually lines up with Alberth Elis, Mauro Manotas and Romell Quioto at the front of the formation, and Saturday should be no different. In a game that means so much to both teams, Houston will likely have its strength in full force in the attack against FC Dallas. Elis and Manotas both lead the team in goals-scored with nine a piece while Quioto currently has 10 assists, which is tied for the second-highest in Major League Soccer. Elis and Manotas have scored four goals in the last five games for the Dynamo and will look to do the same against FC Dallas.
Another Opponent on Short Rest
This will be the second-straight matchup where FC Dallas will be facing an opponent on short rest. In the 3-1 dismantling of the Chicago Fire, FCD looked like the team who was more fit and on longer rest. That will be the case once again this week against the Dynamo. Houston faces Sporting KC on Wednesday in the Open Cup Quarterfinals. The lineup will have a different look as Houston rotates its players in an effort to keep legs fresh. Dallas has taken advantage of it in the past, and its matchup with Chicago last week is a prime example of that.
Key Matchups
Reto Ziegler vs. Mauro Manotas — Ziegler along with Matt Hedges have been the backbone to FC Dallas’ formation this season and have been some of the most consistent players on the team. Ziegler was crucial to FCD’s victory over the Chicago Fire last week, and he will once again be needed to have a good game in order to surpass Manotas’ efforts on goal.
Maxi Urruti vs. Philippe Senderos — Urruti is currently on a seven-game scoreless streak, and he will look to snap it against Houston. When Urruti scores, his team is 28-1-10 throughout his career. Senderos has been a consistent starter for the Dynamo this season and has history with Ziegler in the past as well. The two played against each other in the English Premier League in another rivalry, the North London Derby.
Projected Starting XI
Houston Dynamo (4-2-3-1): Willis; Lundqvist, Senderos, Leonardo, Garcia; MartÃnez, Cerén, Alexander; Quioto, Elis, Manotas
Keys to Three Points
FC Dallas has been successful against teams playing on short rest in the past, and it will look to keep it that way this weekend. Houston has been inconsistent throughout the season, and its recent form is no different. Houston is 1-1-2 in its last five games entering this weekend, but it has been able to score multiple goals in four of those five games. The defense will have to be solid for FCD as it has been in recent weeks, and the attack has to stay consistent with multiple goal-scoring threats it possesses. The recipe for success lies in the performance last week against the Fire. Houston is a similar breed of opponent as Chicago, so matching the performance from last week will be important as well.
