FC Dallas has its MLS Cup playoff place secured. On Saturday night in Houston, it can also take back the Texas Derby trophy without winning.
Dallas won the first leg 4-3 over the Houston Dynamo at Toyota Stadium in Frisco on March 21. A win or a draw at Shell Energy Stadium returns El Capitán, a replica cannon awarded to the series winner, to Dallas, the club said in its match preview. A Houston win by two or more goals keeps the cannon in Houston.
A one-goal Houston win would leave the series level, and the Dynamo, who took the cannon last year, would keep it unless the teams meet in the playoffs, where that series would settle it.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Central on Apple TV.
A table that matters to both
The teams are third and fifth in the Western Conference, each with five regular-season games left. Dallas (14-7-8) has 50 points, four more than Houston (13-9-7).
Dallas clinched its berth Wednesday when Kaick's second-half volley beat Seattle 1-0 and goalkeeper Daniel made seven saves. MLSsoccer.com noted that Dallas could finish the weekend on top of the West if Vancouver and St. Louis drop points. Houston clinches a spot with a win and could also get in on a draw or through results elsewhere, under the league's scenarios.
The recent form runs in opposite directions. Dallas has won five of its last seven, according to the Dynamo. Dallas Sports Nation noted that Houston has won once since Aug. 22 and has gone five matches without a win, most recently a 3-3 draw at San Diego on Wednesday in which it gave up a late equalizer.
Who scores
Petar Musa has 19 goals, second in the league behind Lionel Messi, and his goal at Charlotte last weekend set the club's single-season scoring record, Dallas Sports Nation noted. He also scored the winner in March, and Big D Soccer counts four goals and an assist for him across six regular-season meetings with Houston.
His frequent attacking partner, Logan Farrington, who has 10 goals and five assists, is listed out with a lower-body injury. Joaquin Valiente leads Dallas with 13 assists.
Houston's attack is built around Guilherme, a Brazilian signed from Santos who has 16 goals and has scored or assisted on 25 of the team's 39, the Dynamo said. He had a goal and two assists in the March loss in Frisco. Mateusz Bogusz has seven goals, and goalkeeper Jonathan Bond has 10 shutouts, two shy of the club's single-season record.
