Previewing Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas with Big D Soccer

(image via FC Dallas)

The Houston Dynamo hit the road for the first time this season, making the short trip up to North Texas. We talked to our friend Drew Epperley from Big D Soccer to get some insight on FC Dallas ahead of Saturday’s match.

Bayou City Soccer (BCS): Petar Musa is in red-hot form after scoring a hat trick last weekend. How has Musa been able to excel in this Dallas team and what makes him so dangerous?

Big D Soccer (BDS): Musa is as pure of a goal scorer as they come. His ability in and around the penalty box makes him arguably the most dangerous player on the field at any given time. What impresses me most about his play is his ability to get into the small margins inside the penalty area and create chances or finish off chances. Two of his three goals last week against San Diego were all about being in the right spot at the right time, but more importantly, finishing those chances off.

But here is the rub on Musa, if he isn’t scoring, Dallas isn’t going to win a ton of games. He’s that important to this club and the entire offensive identity is truly about him.

BCS: A new season brings new faces. Who are some players Dynamo fans may not be familiar with on this Dallas team that they'll want to look for in this match?

BDS: Dallas didn’t have a huge roster turnover this winter, but out of the ne faces worth looking at, I’d say Swedish fullback Herman Johansson is one to take a look at for the Dynamo. He recently got called into Sweden’s national team for their March UEFA playoff games, so he’s got a lot of momentum on his side from the way he’s been playing so far in MLS. He has added a lot of pace along the right side of the field for Dallas, and his passing is some of the best on the team. When he is able to spray long balls from the back into the attack, it adds a new element to this team that was lacking in previous years.

BCS: Head coach Eric Quill is entering his second season in charge of FC Dallas. How has he been able to mold this team into playing his style and tactics successfully?

BDS: It is all about a warrior’s mentality with this group, and that starts with Quill himself. He wants his players to fight and to go all out for every ball. You see it in training, and more importantly, you see it on the field in matches. This team has an excellent ‘never-say-die’ mentality about them so far this season, with how they’ve played against teams like San Diego and LAFC on the road.

If he can start to get more out of guys like newcomer Joaquin Valiente and continue to push young players like Bernard Kamungo and Kaick to be their best, the rest of the group will be better for it.

BCS: Michael Collodi has cemented himself as the starting goalkeeper after taking over late last season. How has his growth been as a young player and what do you expect from him in his first full season?

BDS: Collodi is a great story for Dallas, as it helps them return to their developmental roots a bit more. When he took over for Maarten Paes last summer, most of us around the team thought there was a chance that we were seeing the next long-term keeper in Dallas. It turned out, we were right. He made a player like Paes expendable in the offseason and so far this season, he’s showing why the club put a lot of faith in him. If he can continue to keep up the pace he’s started out with this season, I wouldn’t be shocked if he picks up some MLS Goalkeeper of the Year votes.

BCS: Are there any injury concerns for FC Dallas and what do you expect for the starting lineup?

BDS: Dallas has a couple of injuries to discuss, starting with winger Anderson Julio, who is expected to be out for a few more weeks with a leg injury that he picked up in training before the LAFC match. Aside from him, Osaze Urhoghide has a groin injury that the club is monitoring, that kept him out of the draw with San Diego last week. I wouldn’t be surprised if he returned this weekend since the club will have a week off after this game to fully recover.

Lineup: Collodi, Norris, Urhoghide, Moore; Kamungo, Kaick, Cappis, Johansson; Valiente, Farrington, Musa

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We want to thank Drew for his time and wish our friends in Dallas the best of luck tomorrow night.