FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo | 2017 MLS Rivalry Week Match Preview

Charles Boehm

FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo
2017 MLS Regular Season
Toyota Stadium - Frisco, Texas
Wednesday, Aug. 23 - 8 pm ET
WATCH: UniMás, Facebook in US | MLS LIVE in Canada

The 2017 edition of the Texas Derby will be decided, and the curtain raised on the latest edition of Heineken Rivalry Week, when the Houston Dynamo visit FC Dallas for their third and final regular-season meeting.

With the cross-state adversaries having played out two cagey draws earlier this year, a victory for either side will earn them possession of "El Capitan," the Civil War-era mountain howitzer that serves as this rivalry's trophy. Another tie would likely see the cannon remain in the hands of Houston, who won last year's series, though any Dallas-Houston action in the postseason would be factored in should that unfold this fall.

Beyond the usual hunger for bragging rights over enemy No. 1, both teams enter this clash carrying an urgent need for a victory. FCD are mired in a four-game winless skid that's prompted a worrying slide down the Western Conference standings, while the Dynamo continue to struggle on the road, with last weekend's loss at Vancouver pushing their away record to 1-8-4 this year – and they haven't won in Frisco since 2011.

Notably, the Texas clubs are both right in the midst of the West playoff pack and can use every single point they can grab from here on out.

FC Dallas

Suspended: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: None

Projected Starting XI (4-4-2, right to left): Jesse Gonzalez — Hernan Grana, Walker Zimmerman, Matt Hedges, Maynor Figueroa — Michael Barrios, Kellyn Acosta, Carlos Gurezo, Roland Lamah — Cristian Colman, Maxi Urruti

Notes: FC Dallas have failed to score in their last two home games, and four of their last seven league home matches. They last went three consecutive home matches without scoring from August 20 to September 14, 2011 ... FCD win an average of 10.2 fouls per game this year, the second-lowest average of any team in MLS.

Houston Dynamo

Suspended: D A.J. DeLaGarza, M Juan David Cabezas (yellow card accumulation)
Int’l Duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - George Malki (torn ACL)

Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1): GK: Tyler Deric — Jalil Anibaba, Adolfo Machado, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley — Eric Alexander, Ricardo Clark — Alberth Elis, Alex, Romell Quioto — Erick "Cubo" Torres

Notes: Houston have won just one of their last 15 away games in league play (8L-6D), and only three times in their last 38 MLS road games (23L-12D). The Dynamo have kept three road clean sheets in this stretch ... Romell Quioto scored Houston’s only goal against Vancouver last weekend. In the 10 matches he has started this year, the Dynamo average 2.0 goals and 1.7 points per game. In the 15 matches he has not started, those numbers fall to 1.5 goals and 1.3 points per game.