Big Gameday With Big Questions for FC Dallas and North Texas SC
Fans of FC Dallas are going to need two screens to enjoy two massive matches that will tell us a lot about the rest of the season.
It’s gameday, folks.
At 7:30 PM CST and 7:45 PM CST tonight, FC Dallas and North Texas Soccer Club take to the field in different places in Texas. Both games are against key opponents. Both games will say a lot about where each team begins to position themselves for that hopeful postseason run.
First, of course, FC Dallas has traveled down to face Austin FC in a must-win that will help the boys from Frisco climb closer to playoff contention. Yes, there are Copa Tejas implications, and that is fun. The true prize, though, is that postseason ticket, which Dallas has a ways to go if they want to punch it. But the door is cracked open. They need points and consistency.
Austin is also rival - hurt them, and you open the door for more chaos in the coming weeks.
More importantly, you give fans something to hang their hats on in an up-and-down season.
Is this a must-win game? I think it is, only because after FC Dallas sold Lucho Acosta and grabbed a big home win last weekend, they get to keep turning the page on what has been a disappointing season. If nothing else, this team must prove to Eric Quill and to fans that they have something special. We’ve seen their strong away form, so you hope they can hold on to a draw if nothing else.
But a win is more than possible with their road form.
I mentioned this on the podcast that Nico Estevez deserves some credit for getting some respectable and, at times, strong performances from his side. We grew sick of Nicoball at the end of his tenure in Dallas, but he landed on both feet and has Austin in the thick of things, for now. Although… some local fans are not so happy with Nicoball either.
Three things to watch:
First, keep your eyes on Petar Musa. The Croatian striker is flirting with the single-season goal-scoring record for FC Dallas. That’s amazing, especially in a “down year”. Can he maintain his incredible form? And can he help Quill solidify the lineup around him that most helps him win?
Second, will Patrickson Delgado showcase, as our buddy Jose Carmona said, why we will quickly put the Lucho Acosta era behind us? Delgado showed flashes last season and then has looked at best young and raw early in the year. Now, he is back to doing the hard work, serving as a playmaker and instigator. The role suits him, and he is able to cover the field and grow into the game in ways that Acosta wasn’t.
Third, how will Quill line up his defense tonight? The formation has shifted over the course of the season, and the departure of Marco Farfan means Quill is either turning to Osaze, Cappis, or Torquato. It’s kind of a back-line-by-committee right now. It still makes me nervous. Michael Collodi has brought a calming presence in goal, so while I’m not super worried, I don’t want this team to squander the renewed atmosphere and give up lame goals again.
At the same time, North Texas SC welcomes MLS Next Pro, leading St Louis City SC II to Choctaw Stadium. As mentioned on the pod this week, St Lous City gives North Texas lots of problems - they give the whole league lots of problems. With North Texas’ inconsistency, it’s going to be a tough battle, even if the young team has found ways to bounce back and show up in key moments.
One thing I am looking for - who is going to pick up where Sam Sarver left off? We saw Caleb Swann get his first big goal of the season, and Tarik Scott has been good for North Texas. Really, Gall needs to help the team find new ideas for how to score and step up against tougher opponents.
Sarver is the big question mark. Earlier in the week, I had sort of a hunch that Sarver might get the nod for this matchup, since North Texas SC will need all the help they can get. I can confirm that Sam is with the team in Austin. That makes it all the more important for this young team to grind out a big result at home, without their talisman.
Is this a must-win for North Texas? Yes. I think they need all their home points from here on out, but that is easier said than done. A win at home over St Louis City would be a huge statement to the rest of the league and put them in strong position over the coming weeks to secure a good playoff spot. But are they there yet? Can they finally start putting all the pieces together?
A bit of extra motivation for North Texas is the state of the first team - with Sam Sarver and Josh Torquato getting to move up with the first team, every player on this roster has to believe that they can be next if they put the performances together. Who is next? Tonight is the perfect opportunity to make the case.
I predicted a home win, 3-2, but it’s going to be a tough one tonight.
Pull our your iPad. Break out the snacks.