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1. Can Dallas make Toyota Stadium a fortress?
1. Can Dallas make Toyota Stadium a fortress?
This season, FC Dallas has struggled to be dominant at home with their modest 3-4-2 record. However, they boast an impressive road record of 6-3-4, which equals up to a total of 33 points, putting them right in the hunt for a home playoff spot. Given their mix of grittiness and quality, Dallas are a team that is well set up to play on the road. With star striker Petar Musa up top, they are a ruthless team in transition. At Toyota Stadium, where Dallas has been forced to adopt a more front-footed approach, the form of new additions Joaquín Valiente and Santiago Moreno are critical. Both have become increasingly effective as they've adapted to the team, and their playmaking ability and incisiveness could play a huge factor in their home performances. Since the World Cup break, Dallas has played 9 of their last 10 games on the road across all competitions, and 9 straight in MLS play. Now, they return home this weekend to play against a struggling Sporting Kansas City side that is still rebuilding. This could be a springboard for Dallas' playoff push, as 8 of their last 12 games will be played at Toyota Stadium. If they can replicate their road excellence at home, FC Dallas will cement themselves as one of the best teams in the western conference and a serious contender come November.
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So far, no. FC Dallas needed a late Petar Musa goal from the penalty spot to pick up all three points in their duel with Sporting Kansas City. In fact, it was the guests who had more possession, shots, and expected goals. Obviously statistics do not tell the whole story, but the eye test certainly didn't indicate that Dallas were convincing. This marks the third time in the last four games that FC Dallas have scored a goal in stoppage time to either earn a draw or take all three points, a pattern that is surely not sustainble.
Eric Quill rewarded Logan Farrington for his late heroics last week with a start alongside Petar Musa in this game, signaling a shift in formation from a 3-4-3 to a 3-5-2. While FC Dallas have toggled between formations this year, they have only opted to start the game with a two striker system once in their previous seven matches following the World Cup break. If the plan going forward is to start Farrington and Musa up top together, there were some promising signs. Musa is elite at holding up play, so giving him a strike partner adds another number up top to combine with and relieve pressure. This shift in formation also takes away an attacking midfielder in place for a striker, which usually indicates that a team will relinquish control of the ball in exchange for being direct, as was the case this weekend against SKC. It will be interesting to see if Quill sticks with this approach or if he experiments with the lineup to find the best fit in Toyota Stadium.
2. Can Charlotte's scorching attack unlock Houston's resolute defense?
2. Can Charlotte's scorching attack unlock Houston's resolute defense?
Charlotte FC's attack has fully kicked into gear since Allan Saint-Maximin has settled in on the left side of their attack. In their last four matches since being knocked out of Leagues Cup, The Crown have scored 11 goals. Saint-Maximin's directness and playmaking have elevated promising Crown Legacy graduate Rodolfo Aloko and underperforming DP Liel Abada on the opposite flank. With more production out wide, Idan Toklomati will do what he does best - finishing chances - while Pep Biel has continued to play at a Best 11 clip. Meanwhile, Houston have been downright terrifying defensively since the World Cup break, recording 6 shutouts and allowing just 3 goals in this 8 game span. The partnership of Agustin Resch and Lucas Halter has been immense, but it's not just the backline that has defended well. Manager Ben Olsen has every one of his players bought into his patented defensive-oriented brand. Talisman winger and MVP candidate Guilherme exemplifies "Bennyball": he is a relentless worker on both sides of the ball, and this ability to defend from the front has strengthened Houston's defensive structure whether they are operating on the front foot or in a low block. With their collective tenacity, the Dynamo will be the toughest test this sizzling new-look Charlotte attack has faced.
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Charlotte couldn't find a way past the Houston backline, making it 7 shutouts in their last 8 matches for La Naranja. The Dynamo's low block frustrated the home side. With very little space to operate in, the forwards were unable to involve themselves in the game. Allan Saint-Maximin was forced to play sideways or backwards most of the time - and he wasn't the only Charlotte player to do so. Ultimately, the Crown resorted to taking shots from distance, playing right into the Dynamo's hands. Since Ben Olsen arrived in H-Town, his team has had a penchant for blocking shots. That's exactly what they did Saturday in the Queen City. If the shot wasn't blocked, it wasn't going on net.
A bizarre 71st minute red card to Charlotte FC captain Ashley Westwood effectively ended the hosts' chance of getting on the scoresheet. They were able to hold onto a draw, showcasing resolute defending of their own while down a man. Houston has now scored one goal or fewer in their last five matches. Their defense is suffocating, but if they want to establish themselves at a juggernaut in the Western Conference they will need to find a way to score more goals. Summer signing Lyle Foster will help. The South African center forward featured at the World Cup, and his strong link up play will get Guilherme and Bogusz more involved in dangerous areas. The Dynamo are already one of the toughest outings in Major League Soccer, now they are looking to take the next step.
3. Can Preston Judd rediscover lethal form?
3. Can Preston Judd rediscover lethal form?
After an electric first half of the season, where he put away 11 goals in 14 matches, San Jose striker Preston Judd has struggled to continue this level of productivity. He offers constant movement and physicality, but hasn't been able to apply the finishing touch of late. Part of this is San Jose's struggles: they haven't won since MLS play resumed. However, it's mainly been their defense which has been letting them down. In an effort to bolster this side of the ball, head coach Bruce Arena shifted formations to a 3-4-3 in the previous match. Adding more numbers behind the ball steadied the leaky backline, but with less players being committed forward, Judd will have to rediscover his fine form from the beginning of the season for San Jose to break out of their rut. New addition Eduard Löwen will help. His intelligence and ability to pick a pass complements Judd's strengths perfectly. Now Judd will be facing an Austin FC side which has found its stride after a disappointing beginning to the season. They have collected 7 points in their last 4 MLS matches and showed well for themselves in Leagues Cup, resulting in the Verde & Black joining the chase for the playoffs at the exact right time. Will Judd be able to find the back of the net against a confident Austin group?
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The wait for Preston Judd to return to the scoresheet will have to go on, as he did not tally against Austin in a 1-1 draw. For the second match in a row, Judd has begun the match on the bench, with Ousseni Bouda spearheading the 'Quakes attack. In each of the last two, Judd has been introduced around the 70th minute mark, but hasn't gotten involved in the action, recording just one shot in each match. For Judd, it's a setback in what's been an amazing season. But Preston Judd is a fighter. He has had to battle for minutes his whole MLS career, making only 22 league starts from 2023 to 2025 for the Galaxy and Earthquakes. Judd knows all about making the most of his limited minutes and will look to do exactly that for San Jose going forward.
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