HOUSTON - It’s Texas Derby week once again as FC Dallas heads to Houston for the only regular season visit to BBVA Compass Stadium on Friday night. Dallas (6-3-6, 24 points) wraps up a stretch of three straight road weekends with it’s second Derby meeting. Houston (7-6-3, 24 points) will play just their second match at home since early May, where they’re unbeaten in 2017. The two sides played to a 0-0 draw on May 28 in Frisco and Houston has just one win in the last nine matches over the course of four seasons (FCD 6-1-2)
Late-Half Dominance
Houston has scored a league-high seven goals between the 30th and 45th minutes to close out the opening period. Dallas has allowed a league-low one goal within the same span this season. All-time, Dallas has outscored the Dynamo 10-5 in the final quarter hour of the first half - the biggest lead in a 15-minute span in the series.
Key Match-Ups
Maynor Figueroa vs. Erick “Cubo” Torres: Moving back to the inside of the defense last week, Figueroa posted team-highs in clearances (8), interceptions (6), blocks (2) and recoveries (7). He’ll be put to the test against a resurgent Torres with 10 goals in 15 games.
Jesse Gonzalez vs. Tyler Deric: Last time around, each goalkeeper made several key stops that had them up for MLS Save of the Week. Houston has the most goals in the West and has allowed the second most of any team in a playoff position in 2017. It’ll be on the keepers to earn three points Friday.
Last Time Out
(4-1-4-1): Tyler Deric; DeMarcus Beasley, Leonardo, Adolfo Machado, AJ DeLaGarza; Alex, Juan Cabezas, Ricardo Clark; Romell Quioto, Erick Torres, Mauro Manotas.
Key to Three Points
Dallas will look to keep their form in recent Texas Derby matchups as they make their lone trip to Houston on Friday night. If the defense can hold strong against one of the highest-producing offenses in the league, while the offense can capitalize on the counter against an attacking-minded Dynamo team, FCD should take the lead in bringing El Capitan home.
