FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 11
FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo
Toyota Stadium – Frisco
September 12 – 8:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: Texas 21, QuestTEXAS Ch. 55

After a goalless draw at BBVA Stadium, FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo renew their rivalry and look for the upper hand in the latest Texas Derby Saturday night at Toyota Stadium.

FC Dallas (2W-2L-4D) have won just one out of their last seven games and are coming off a 3-2 loss to Minnesota United at Allianz Field Wednesday night, while the Dynamo (3W-2L-5D) extended an unbeaten streak to six, though their chance at winning a fourth consecutive game was halted in stoppage-time in a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids Wednesday.

This is the 37th all-time meeting between the rivals with each team winning 11 times and sharing the points 14 times.

FC Dallas

Next man up? You bet. On the same day academy product Reggie Cannon was transferred to Boavista in Portugal, his 19-year-old successor and fellow FCD academy alum took his place in the FC Dallas starting lineup as Bryan Reynolds made his first start of the season at right back and assisted on Ricardo Pepi's goal in a 3-2 loss at Minnesota United.

FC Dallas have missed striker Zdenek Ondrasek, who is dealing with a personal issue, the last two games and coach Luchi Gonzalez said there is no timetable for his return.

"I wish I could answer that," Gonzalez said, when asked during a virtual media availability about when Ondrasek would be available again. "And I wish I could count on him to be available.

"Ever since he’s seen injured he’s been trying to fight his way back into rhythm and form and I feel like he’s been getting better and better. But there’s a family situation, a private situation that I can’t go into detail about that he just needs time to process and I respect that and we respect that as a club. So I'm not sure if we’ll see him soon or even again. That’s the reality of the situation but I’m going to learn more each day."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Paxton Pomykal (M) - hip injury
- OUT: Fafa Picault (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Bryan Acosta (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Jimmy Maurer (GK) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Houston Dynamo

A goal in the opening seconds of the second half by Christian Ramirez held up until the dying seconds, but Lalas Abubakar lost his mark and scored the stoppage time equalizer as the Dynamo were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with the host Colorado Rapids Wednesday night. It's a road point, and Tab Ramos preferred to focus on the positives than it being two points dropped.

"I feel good about the team. We’re in a good spot. We’ve got ourselves in a playoff fight, which is where we want to be," Ramos said. "Today we came to play an opponent that likely will be in that fight with us; and had we lost today here in Colorado, all of a sudden we’re only one point ahead of them and they’re right in the middle of it. Now we’re able to keep four points ahead of one opponent, and I think that was big. Now we’re just moving on to think about Dallas, and that’s the next opponent that we’ll be fighting with, so that’s a good one.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Michael Salazar (F) - right knee injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Alberth Elis (M) - left thigh injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Wilfried Zahibo (M) - right thigh injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Maynor Figueroa (D)
International duty: None