FC Dallas must learn to manage matches with more composure, so says interim coach Peter Luccin.

Dallas bounced back from a 3-2 defeat to Sporting Kansas City by claiming a surprise 2-0 win over the high-flying Los Angeles Galaxy last time out.

Having seen his team lose late on against Kansas City, Luccin was delighted with Dallas' response against the Galaxy, with Petar Musa and Logan Farrington on target.

Dallas accumulated 1.38 expected goals (xG) and had 18 shots to the Galaxy's nine, though Luccin did point out to one area where his side can improve.

"I'm still hurt a bit about our last game versus Kansas City to be honest," he said.

"Coming off a loss against Kansas City, we saw that it could be different. It says a lot about this team. I told you from the very first day, I'm very proud of them, with all of the adversity we face right now like injuries. 

"I will say that maybe having more of the ball in those important moments. I think we did that in the last 10 minutes, in the first half we were rushing too much.

"We should've pushed up higher and sustained a little bit more of the ball. Even if we want to go more vertical, we need to understand the timing and moments to go vertical.

"For me, how to manage the game with the ball. We knew the Galaxy were very good with the ball but in the end, we controlled well. We were compact in the low block. We need to manage the ball better and have possession for longer."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Dallas - Jesus Ferreira

Ferreira has scored in each of his last three home MLS appearances, including in the 2-0 win over the Galaxy on Saturday.

Only one Dallas player has scored in four straight home matches since the start of the 2020 season – Ricardo Pepi in June-July 2021.

Austin FC - Julio Cascante

Cascante won eight of nine aerial duels in Austin's loss to the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, the third time he has won at least eight aerial duels in an MLS match since joining Austin FC in 2021.

The only other player to win eight or more aerial duels in a match for Austin FC is Leo Vaisanen (twice).

MATCH PREDICTION: DALLAS WIN

Austin have managed just two wins in their last 18 regular-season road matches dating back to last July, but one of those wins came in a Texas Derby, a 1-0 victory against the Houston Dynamo on April 20.

Dallas recorded their eighth home win in all competitions this season, and fourth in five matches, with the win over the Galaxy. A league-high 88% (23/26) of Dallas' points this season have been earned at home.

Dallas are unbeaten in five home matches against Austin (W4 D1), including a 2-1 victory at Toyota Stadium on May 11. Three of Dallas' four home wins over Austin have been by one-goal margins.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Dallas - 51.8%

Austin FC - 23.6%

Draw - 24.6%

Ben Olsen had to hold a few "tough conversations" to get the Houston Dynamo out of their slump, with Saturday's Texas derby at Austin FC offering them the chance for back-to-back wins.

The Dynamo approached Saturday's trip to Sporting Kansas City both winless and goalless in three MLS matches (one draw, two defeats), while they were also dumped out of the U.S. Open Cup by Detroit City FC.

However, goals from Hector Herrera and Ibrahim Aliyu handed them a 2-1 road win and lifted them into the top seven of the Western Conference – above Austin by a single point. 

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's grudge match against a team that won the reverse fixture less than a month ago, Olsen credited his players for coming through a tough patch. 

"I think some people were questioning us, and we've had a few tough conversations, particularly with the U.S. Open cup knockout. This was just a really good response," he said.

"We have to figure out when we are at our best, to think, 'who are we, at our best?'

"It was our defensive effort that we hung our hat on last year, so it's a bit of a renewed feeling of that being there."

Austin, by contrast, were on a run of four wins in six games before they were beaten 2-1 by another Texas rival in FC Dallas on Saturday.

Despite that reverse, centre-back Julio Cascante has praised the defensive work done by coach Josh Wolff, with Austin looking far more competitive than was the case in their dismal 2023 season.

"Despite everything, we've worked very hard on the defensive side," Cascante said.

"Emphasis has been placed on the defensive side, but defending is done as an entire team. It starts with the number nine. I think that makes the difference."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Austin FC – Sebastian Driussi

Driussi scored a consolation from the penalty spot at Dallas on Saturday, his third goal of the season in eight MLS starts. 

Only Diego Rubio, who has started three additional games, has matched that tally for Austin this year. The Argentine will be looking to carry his team's attacking hopes again here.

Houston Dynamo – Amine Bassi 

Bassi recorded his third assist of the season by teeing up Hector Herrera's 31st-minute strike against Sporting on Saturday. 

All three of Bassi's assists have come on goals from outside the box this season – Houston's only three strikes from outside the penalty area.

MATCH PREDICTION – AUSTIN FC WIN

Houston have won three of their first five road matches this year, having only recorded more than three regular-season away wins in one of the last 10 campaigns, winning four times on their travels in 2022.

However, Austin have won all four of their previous home matches against Houston, netting multiple goals in each contest. The Dynamo are one of two teams – alongside Kansas City – that Austin have hosted more than once while posting a 100 per cent record.

Austin have also won three straight at home after only winning once in their previous 10 outings at Q2 Stadium. Back on home soil after Saturday's derby loss, they will expect a different result. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Austin FC – 44.9%
Houston Dynamo – 26.9%
Draw – 28.2%