What to Watch For: FC Dallas vs. Austin FC

The Texas Derby got a whole lot more interesting.

When FC Dallas beat Austin FC last month and took control over the entire Copa Tejas race, the Verde and Black were a team in transition, leaking results, and were searching for an identity under interim manager Davy Arnaud. A lot has changed in the last month. Austin FC comes to Toyota Stadium on Saturday riding a six-game unbeaten run that includes wins in all three Cascadia towns, including first-place Vancouver last Sunday. They’re no longer a team struggling at the bottom of the Western Conference table.

Meanwhile, FC Dallas sits third in the Western Conference on 43 points, are riding a three-game winning streak, and are one win or draw away from lifting Copa Tejas. Petar Musa is also one goal off the Golden Boot race and will break the club’s single-season goal scoring mark with his next goal.

Saturday’s middle game in a three-game homestand may be the biggest game yet. Here is what I’ll be looking out for when these two kick off.

Respect What Austin Has Become - This Is Not the Same Club You Beat Last Month

It may seem weird to think that just this time last month, no one was taking Austin FC that seriously. Aside from a solid run in the Leagues Cup, they were struggling in league play. Now, they’re legitimately dangerous and are walking into this weekend riding a six-game unbeaten run.

Don’t get me wrong, that unbeaten run is truly weird. All three wins have come on the road. All three draws at home. If anything, they’re proving that they can go into any building and compete.

They picked up a win at Portland on a stoppage-time goal. They went to Lumen Field and picked up a rare win over Seattle. And this past Sunday, they went to BC Place in Canada and downed the conference leader thanks to a brace from Christian Ramirez.

Austin may sit 13th in the standings, but they’re only a single point away from a playoff spot. This group has found a belief in the right moment, which is a dangerous thing to go up against. Facundo Torres is finally finding his stride with Austin. Myrto Uzuni continues to be one of the better attacking players in MLS.

Just like in the previous meeting, Dallas has to find a way to put Austin on their heels early.

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Can Quill Finally Land on His Best Lineup?

This may be the question that’s been hovering over FC Dallas for the better part of a month or two. With the schedule finally not as congested as it has been, this may be the time for Eric Quill to finally land on what will be his main starting lineup for the final weeks of the regular season.

Quill rotated heavily throughout the summer road trip and continued that a bit going into September. It was understandable given the schedule. With nine games to go, it is time to figure out which group gives you the best chance of not only getting into the playoffs, but securing one of those top four slots that gives you a home-field advantage come November.

If it were me, here is the group I would toss out there as my main starting lineup if everyone is healthy and not suspended:

Obviously, you could say this is a 4-4-2 or a 5-3-2 depending on whether or not the team has the ball. Defensively, you would have Johansson slide back into the defense, while Joaquin Valiente pinches into the middle a bit more.

Quill has been trying to figure out if it makes the most sense to have Petar Musa paired with someone like Logan Farrington, Valiente or Santiago Moreno for a few weeks now. In all honesty, Moreno hasn’t done enough in my book to warrant a starting role. His best work has come late in games, alongside Sam Sarver.

The other side is figuring out his starting defense. He’s rotated through the same set of guys, but his best group in the back has been a combination of Nolan Norris, Osaze Urhoghide and Shaq Moore.

Saturday is a good chance to see what Quill is actually thinking, though. The time is right to figure it all out once and for all.