FC Dallas v Austin FC: Luccin wants better game management ahead of Texas derby

FC Dallas must learn to manage matches with more composure, so says interim coach Peter Luccin.

Dallas bounced back from a 3-2 defeat to Sporting Kansas City by claiming a surprise 2-0 win over the high-flying Los Angeles Galaxy last time out.

Having seen his team lose late on against Kansas City, Luccin was delighted with Dallas’ response against the Galaxy, with Petar Musa and Logan Farrington on target.

Dallas accumulated 1.38 expected goals (xG) and had 18 shots to the Galaxy’s nine, though Luccin did point out to one area where his side can improve.

“I’m still hurt a bit about our last game versus Kansas City to be honest,” he said.

“Coming off a loss against Kansas City, we saw that it could be different. It says a lot about this team. I told you from the very first day, I’m very proud of them, with all of the adversity we face right now like injuries.

“I will say that maybe having more of the ball in those important moments. I think we did that in the last 10 minutes, in the first half we were rushing too much.

“We should’ve pushed up higher and sustained a little bit more of the ball. Even if we want to go more vertical, we need to understand the timing and moments to go vertical.

“For me, how to manage the game with the ball. We knew the Galaxy were very good with the ball but in the end, we controlled well. We were compact in the low block. We need to manage the ball better and have possession for longer.”

Nobody Petar pic.twitter.com/BZyNMDynkP

— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) July 16, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Dallas – Jesus Ferreira

Ferreira has scored in each of his last three home MLS appearances, including in the 2-0 win over the Galaxy on Saturday.

Only one Dallas player has scored in four straight home matches since the start of the 2020 season – Ricardo Pepi in June-July 2021.

Austin FC – Julio Cascante

Cascante won eight of nine aerial duels in Austin’s loss to the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, the third time he has won at least eight aerial duels in an MLS match since joining Austin FC in 2021.

The only other player to win eight or more aerial duels in a match for Austin FC is Leo Vaisanen (twice).

MATCH PREDICTION: DALLAS WIN

Austin have managed just two wins in their last 18 regular-season road matches dating back to last July, but one of those wins came in a Texas Derby, a 1-0 victory against the Houston Dynamo on April 20.

Dallas recorded their eighth home win in all competitions this season, and fourth in five matches, with the win over the Galaxy. A league-high 88% (23/26) of Dallas’ points this season have been earned at home.

Dallas are unbeaten in five home matches against Austin (W4 D1), including a 2-1 victory at Toyota Stadium on May 11. Three of Dallas’ four home wins over Austin have been by one-goal margins.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Dallas – 51.8%

Austin FC – 23.6%

Draw – 24.6%