Game day: FC Dallas Travels to Austin FC

Is there a bigger match for FC Dallas at a worse time? With injuries mounting, here are questions for tonight’s match against Austin FC.

Hey, FC Dallas fans, the Copa Tejas is back on tonight with a match that is being pushed back a little later by an hour due to the scorching heat.

It’s Copa Tejas, so this should really be the usual.

But there are many looming questions. For one, FC Dallas had been hit by the injury bug hard, and while a week and a half off have surely helped, the team will still be without core players. Add Jader Obrian to that list, not for injury purposes, but for yellow card suspension.

Here are a few questions we ask:

Is this a time when Nico eschews normal tactics and bunkers hard?

If there is good news, a decent starting back line should be in play with Farfan, Tafari, Ibeagha, and Jesus. Cerrillo and Quignon offer some stability in the midfield. Maybe Nico gives Norris another start in the midfield and just has the team send balls over the top to a streaking Alan Velasco all night? Just work defensively to come out with a draw? Or is that waving the white flag before the game even starts?

Who will start at striker?

Alan Velasco is your only starting caliber winger ready to go. We have seen Sam Junqua start on the wing, and maybe he gets the nod there again. That still leaves a huge hole at the top of the formation.

Jose Mulato is the only other healthy striker on the roster, unless you think Bernard Kamungo is ready to go. Nico may have to turn to one of those two, even if they aren’t ready yet. Both players are young and likely more suited to minutes off the bench, but it’s an all hands on deck situation.

New signing Ansah can’t even be added to the roster yet, and Jesus Jimenez is out with an injury. Jesus Ferreira is away at the Gold Cup. It’s just… a pickle.

That’s why I ask the previous question - maybe you let Velasco serve as a striker in a more central role. I don’t know.

Austin FC can get a big win tonight that they need. But will they?

Austin has regressed in a big way. They have been hurt by injuries for sure, but some of their losses have come even after getting star striker Driussi back.

If Austin lays an egg and FC Dallas can get something off of a corner, points are to be had, as unlikely as it may seem.

What are your thoughts on the match?