Saturday brings the first edition of one of Major League Soccer’s best budding rivalries in 2023, as FC Dallas visits Q2 Stadium to take on Austin FC. The match is set for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
Tune-In
Fans can watch the match in English or Spanish in over 100 countries via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
- Stream: Click here to watch the match, or access it through any device compatible with the Apple TV app. An MLS Season Pass subscription is required.
- Radio: The match will be broadcast live locally in English on iHeart Radio’s Alt 97.5, and in Spanish on Univision’s TUDN Radio Austin (104.3-HD2, KLQB-FM).
Austin FC Outlook
Austin FC got a momentum boost midweek in the form of a 2-0 victory over New Mexico United in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32. Rodney Redes scored his first goal in Verde & Black, and Maxi Urruti netted another off an Adam Lundkvist assist before the team shut up shop and kept its third home clean sheet of 2023.
Combined with a hard-fought away point in Portland and a draw against San Jose, Austin is now unbeaten in its last three matches across all competitions. A win against Dallas on Saturday would have the team pointed firmly in the right direction during what is likely to be the busiest stretch of the season.
While the series against their North Texas rivals didn’t get off to a great start from an Austin perspective in 2021, 2022 saw the balance of power shift down I-35. The Verde & Black clinched their first-ever Copa Tejas triumph with a 1-1 draw at Toyota Stadium last summer, then knocked Dallas out of the MLS Cup Playoffs in October with a 2-1 win at Q2 Stadium.
It’s a new season though, and bragging rights are once again up for grabs in 2023. Austin’s attack, which has scored two goals in each of its last three games, will need to continue firing on all cylinders if the team is to have success on derby day. Emiliano Rigoni can extend his streak of three consecutive matches with a goal contribution by tallying a goal or an assist on Saturday night.
FC Dallas Outlook
Dallas, like Austin, had a midweek U.S. Open Cup match to contend with, falling 2-0 on the road against Nashville SC. Before that, the team’s form has been up-and-down to start the season, with its 4-3-3 record helping it to fifth place in the Western Conference.
Striker Jesus Ferreira picked up where he left off last year in front of goal, recording five goals and one assist in 11 matches so far in 2023. Stopping the U.S. international is sure to be a key area of focus for ATXFC on Saturday. After Ferreira scored four goals in three matches against Austin in 2021, the Verde & Black held him scoreless in all three meetings last season, perhaps a key reason why their results against Dallas improved.
At the other end of the pitch, the center back pairing of Jose Martinez and Sebastien Ibeagha have been solid in front of goalkeeper Maarten Paes. Dallas’ goals-allowed-per-match average of 1.1 is the eighth-best in MLS.
FCD’s recent away matches against their in-state rivals have proven to be high-scoring affairs. In Dallas’ last five road games against Texas opponents, there have been 24 total goals scored, with at least three goals in each contest. Dallas hasn’t fared particularly well on its Lone Star State travels though, with only one victory in their last 12 away matches against Austin and Houston.
Possible Dallas Lineup
(4-3-3, R-L) - GK: Maarten Paes; Ema Twumasi, Sebastien Ibeagha, Jose Martinez, Sam Junqua; Sebastian Lletget, Edwin Cerrillo, Paxton Pomykal; Jader Obrian, Jesus Ferreira, Paul Arriola
