copa tejas: The Texas Derby isn't the only rivalry showdown taking place this Saturday. Since Austin FC entered MLS in 2021, the three Texas teams have competed for the Copa Tejas, a fan-driven competition to crown the state's top team. This year's Copa Tejas will be determined by the best-performing Texas team on a points per game (PPG) basis. So far, Austin FC has defeated both Dallas and Houston and leads the series with 3.0 PPG. But no one can escape, as there are five more Copa Tejas games to be played (FCD will play both Houston and Austin two more times, and Austin and Houston one more time). Still, a good result on Saturday will be crucial if Dallas is to win the Copa Tejas for the first time since 2021.
Olsen's Houston: The Dynamo are in their second year under head coach Ben Olsen, who in his first year led the club to a stunning comeback and a berth in the Western Conference Finals. Dinamo seems to be doing well in their second year, and despite being plagued by injuries to key players, they are in 6th place in the West Region with a record of 4 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw. That includes midfield keeper Hector Herrera. The Mexican international missed the first seven games with a knee injury, but returned in the final game, playing 28 minutes in Houston's 1-0 loss to Austin FC. If Herrera is fit enough to start Saturday, FC Dallas will need to prevent the 34-year-old from dictating the pace of games from midfield. Either way, Olsen's Houston proved to be a tough opponent for Dallas, which needs to be at its best to get all three points.
