Houston Dynamo FC begin a four-game home stand on Saturday beginning with the second leg of the Texas Derby against FC Dallas. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT and this is the first of two meetings at BBVA Stadium this season.
The Dynamo look to bounce back after falling 2-1 to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. The Dynamo conceded the game-winning goal minutes before the final whistle and enter Saturday’s game in need of points after falling to 12th place in the Western Conference. A victory would bring Houston level with FC Dallas in the league table with 21 points.
Dynamo forward Fafa Picault scored for the Dynamo on Wednesday and enters Saturday’s game with back-to-back goals in his last two outings. The forward has scored three goals in August to reach five for the season, the second highest mark for the Dynamo this year. Picault’s first goal of the month was against Austin FC and the attacker is the first Dynamo player to score against both FC Dallas and Austin FC in the same season. Picault scored the opening goal against FC Dallas in the first meeting of the season on May 8.
FC Dallas enter Saturday’s game in need of points after losing back-to-back games at home. Dallas closed a three-game homestand with a 1-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders on Wednesday. Ricardo Pepi has been a key contributor for FC Dallas this season and leads the team in goals with eight. Pepi has struggled to find the back of the net after scoring a hat trick in the 4-0 victory over the LA Galaxy at home on July 24. Pepi could earn his first start against the Dynamo on Saturday after entering as a substitute in his first three appearances against Houston.
Houston will host Minnesota United at BBVA Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 28. Houston fell 2-0 to the Loons in the first meeting of the season on Aug. 7 at Allianz Field.
Here are three key points ahead of Saturday’s game:
- DYNAMO OPEN HOMESTAND IN NEED OF POINTS: The Dynamo open their four-game homestand against FC Dallas, the first of three Western Conference rivals in direct contention with Houston for a spot in the postseason. A victory for FC Dallas would bring them level with Portland for the seventh and final playoff spot. Minnesota United visit BBVA Stadium on Aug. 28 and currently sit in sixth place. The Timbers visit on Sept. 3 in the final meeting with a direct rival for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Houston closes the homestand with Austin FC’s first visit to BBVA Stadium on Sept. 11. The Dynamo look to capitalize on their stretch in EaDo, a key factor for Houston’s run to the postseason in 2017.
- HOUSTON FACES DALLAS FOR SIXTH MEETING SINCE 2020: The Dynamo and FC Dallas faced each other four times in 2020 with the series ending with one victory and one draw for the Dynamo at BBVA Stadium. Since 2019, the Dynamo are 3-0-1 against their in-state rival at home and look to extend that run to snap a four-game losing streak in league play on Saturday. Houston’s recent success against FC Dallas snapped a winless streak that begin in Aug. 2016 and finished on May 4, 2019. The Dynamo finished with a 0-1-3 record at home against their in-state rival. With a victory on Saturday the Dynamo could improve their record at home to 10-4-7 at home and level the all-time series to 13-13-15.
- DALLAS BEGIN THREE GAME ROAD TRIP IN HOUSTON: FC Dallas open a three-game road trip on Saturday that includes a trip to Austin and Utah after their first visit of the year to BBVA Stadium. Dallas enters with a 1-7-1 record away from home and have conceded 17 goals away from Frisco, tied for the third most in the Western Conference. Dallas has also struggled offensively, they enter Saturday’s game with five goals scored on the road, the fewest in the conference. Dallas will look for their first victory in Houston since a 3-1 triumph on Aug. 27, 2016.
