Austin FC will aim to strengthen their position at the summit of the Major League Soccer Western Conference standings on Sunday, when they make the trip to take on fellow Texan outfit FC Dallas.
Four straight victories have seen the visitors move a point ahead of second-placed Los Angeles FC, while their hosts sit sixth following six games without a win.
Match preview
© Reuters
Dallas enjoyed a particularly strong start to the MLS season, quickly establishing themselves at the top end of the Western Conference as they picked up 22 points from the opening 11 games.
Nico Estevez's side have since seen their form take a sharp dip, though, having now won just one of their last nine league games, as they beat Orlando City away from home after consecutive defeats.
That lone victory has been followed by a six-game winless run for the Burn, who, at least, managed to add two points to their tally with back-to-back draws against Inter Miami and Houston Dynamo earlier in July, albeit having been pegged back in the 11th minute of added time in the latter after leading 2-1 through Matt Hedges and Jesus Ferreira.
Looking to put an end to their slump, the Texan side hosted New York City last time out, but they came out of the contest empty-handed as Heber's first-half goal made the only difference at the Toyota Stadium.
Having now dropped to sixth spot after their impressive start, Estevez's men will be desperate to return to winning ways to strengthen their playoff bid on Sunday.
© Reuters
That will be no easy task, though, as the Conference leaders arrive looking to extend their impressive run of form.
Josh Wolff's side quickly put themselves in the leading pack in their division with a strong start, and, after a minor blip in May, in which they picked up four points from five matches, Austin have gone on a six-game unbeaten run.
They started with a win over CF Montreal and a draw with Sunday's opponents, before putting four consecutive wins together heading into the weekend, firstly beating Charlotte FC and Colorado Rapids away from home.
After thrashing Atlanta United 3-0, with Felipe Martins, Ethan Finlay and Sebastian Driussi on the scoresheet, Wolff's men hosted Houston Dynamo last time out, and they again came out with all three points as Diego Fagundez, Maximiliano Urruti and Alexander Ring hit goals in a 3-1 victory after initially falling behind in the 11th minute.
Having successfully leapfrogged and kept a lead over second-placed Los Angeles FC in the Western Conference, Austin will look to further strengthen their standing with what would be a fifth straight triumph.
- L
- D
- L
- D
- D
- L
- W
- D
- W
- W
- W
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Dallas' key man in attack will again be Jesus Ferreira, who has already netted 11 goals and provided four assists in 19 MLS appearances this season.
Winger Paul Arriola will also be vying to feature from the outset after coming off the bench last time out, having hit the net eight times in the league this term.
Matt Hedges is another player hoping to break back into the starting XI, and he will likely reform an established centre-back pairing with Jose Antonio Martinez.
Austin FC are expected to come into Sunday's game with an unchanged team after extending their winning run last time out.
Maximiliano Urruti will continue to lead the line after scoring his seventh league goal of the season in that triumph over Houston Dynamo.
Sebastian Driussi is another danger man, boasting 11 goals and four assists in 20 MLS appearances this campaign.
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Nanu, Martinez, Hedges, Munjoma; Cerrillo, Ntsabeleng; Arriola, Ferreira, Velasco; Jara
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Jimenez, Cascante, Gabrielsen, Kolmanic; Wolff, Ring; Finlay, Driussi, Fagundez; Urruti
We say: Dallas 0-2 Austin FC
Austin arrive in fine form as Conference leaders, and, against a struggling Dallas outfit, we back the visitors to outclass their hosts and make it five on the bounce on Sunday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
