There will be plenty of new faces in different places when the Houston Dynamo host rival FC Dallas in the first Texas Derby match that doubles as the opener for both sides.
Much of the offseason talk surrounding the Dynamo and FC Dallas has been about who is no longer with the teams – as opposed to who is.
Houston didn’t re-sign goalkeeper Steve Clark, allowed Hector Herrera to move back to LIGA MX and came to a mutual contract termination with Sebastian Ferreira. Coco Carrasquilla also is gone, transferred to LIGA MX’s Pumas for a club-record fee.
Into the breach steps midfielders Jack McGlynn, acquired in a trade with Philadelphia, and Junior Urso, who has 117 MLS matches on his resume from stints with Charlotte and Orlando. Houston also signed midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro from Orlando City.
The Dynamo finished fifth in the Western Conference last season, with its 54 points setting the team’s single-season record. Houston lost in the first round of the playoffs 2-0 to Seattle, dropping both matches by shootout.
“It’s the first game of the season and that always brings a certain level of tension and excitement,” Houston third-year coach Ben Olsen said. “And it’s a rival match against a new team with a new coach that is trying to develop a new identity. It’ll be a tough task for the group but, again, one we’re certainly looking forward to.”
Dallas traded star forwards Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira to Seattle and let Alan Velasco transfer to Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors. Defender Nkosi Tafari, the team’s 2020 SuperDraft pick, was traded to Los Angeles FC.
The Toros acquired 2023 MLS MVP Luciano Acosta from FC Cincinnati to pair with Petar Musa, last year’s big signing who amassed 17 goals across all competitions for Dallas in 2024. Also added were center back Lalas Abubakar, midfielder Ramiro Benetti from Brazil, forward Anderson Julio and right back Shaq Moore.
Dallas will be managed by newcomer Eric Quill, who takes over the team after a stint at New Mexico United in the USL Championship.
“I’m just truly excited to lead this storied club, that I played for, to a championship,” Quill told FCDallas.com. “That’s what I’m here to do. And I’m not afraid to say that word. It’s one that I want players to understand, when I walk through the door, this is why we’re playing — for a championship.”
FC Dallas finished 11th of 14 teams in the West last season, missing the postseason for just the second time in its past seven campaigns.
Dallas holds an 18-15 lead in the all-time series against the Dynamo with 21 draws. The Toros won at home last April and the teams drew in Houston in May.
–Field Level Media
