​FC Dallas v Austin FC: Quill hopes battling spirit can propel hosts in playoff fight

FC Dallas' fight and resilience could take them far in the battle to gatecrash the MLS Playoffs, believes head coach Eric Quill as they gear up for Saturday's derby with Austin FC.

Dallas sit 12th in the Western Conference standings with six games of the regular season remaining, four points adrift of the play-in spots.

In their last game, away at St. Louis City SC, Quill's side had to play 74 minutes plus stoppage time with 10 men, following an early red card for goalkeeper Michael Collodi.

Jacob Jackson came off the bench and produced a fantastic display between the sticks as Dallas earned a 1-1 draw, with Petar Musa equalising two minutes after Celio Pompeu put St. Louis ahead.

"We may look back on this point, at the very end, and say what a massive point it was. We have the potential to get into the playoffs," Quill said, reflecting on that result.

"Next weekend is going to be a massive game, and I'm looking forward to it because of what I've seen in training, in terms of quality and mentality. 

"We're becoming a team that works hard for each other, roots for each other, the chemistry is off the charts, and they all want to be in the playoffs. 

"They're fighting like that, and I couldn't be prouder to be their coach right now."

Dallas will need the teams above them to drop points if they are to reach the playoffs, but Jackson says they must focus on their own games.

"I think we're just taking it one day at a time," he said. "We'll get to Austin, and then that's the goal. 

"We can only control what we can control. Let's not worry too much about whether it's a derby, this, that, that or the other. Let's just go out and play our best soccer this week."

Austin, meanwhile, are sixth in the western conference and boast an eight-point buffer to the teams outside the playoff picture.

Nico Estevez's team beat Sporting KC 2-1 on the road last time out via goals from Owen Wolff and CJ Fodrey, having overcome the San Jose Earthquakes in their last home game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

FC Dallas – Jacob Jackson 

In Dallas' draw at St. Louis last week, Jackson came off the bench following Collodi's dismissal and made 11 saves.

That made him the only goalkeeper over the last 15 seasons to record double-digit saves as a substitute in an MLS match, while his tally was also the most by any shot-stopper in the league since Roman Burki had 12 for St. Louis against the Colorado Rapids, in April 2023.

Austin FC – Owen Wolff 

Wolff recorded his fourth straight match with a goal contribution in Austin's 2-1 win at Kansas City last time out, providing a goal and an assist.

He joins Sebastian Driussi (two streaks of 11 and four) as the only Austin players to record a run of at least four straight MLS games with a goal contribution.

MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW

Since the beginning of June, the only Western Conference teams to win more MLS games than Austin's six are San Diego FC (nine) and Minnesota United (seven). 

Austin have taken 21 points from their 11 matches in that span, having only earned five total wins and 20 points in their first 17 games of the season.

But they face a difficult test this weekend against a Dallas side that enjoys playing at Toyota Stadium.

Dallas have not lost a home match (five wins, one draw) against Austin in six all-time meetings. 

They have outscored their in-state rivals 11-4 at home, while Austin have never scored multiple goals on the road against Dallas.

Dallas are unbeaten in their last four MLS games (one win, three draws), their longest streak of the 2025 campaign. Their last longer unbeaten run in the regular season was a 10-match run in 2023 and 2024.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Dallas – 40.1%

Austin FC – 33.3%

Draw – 26.6%