Defense will be under microscope as Dynamo host Austin FC

Defense, and the lack of it, will be a key factor when surging Houston Dynamo FC hosts Austin FC on Saturday in the latest rendition of the Copa Tejas series between the Lone Star State rivals.

The Dynamo have allowed just seven goals this season, tied for the fewest in MLS. Austin FC, conversely, have conceded 13 times in 2024 (while scoring just 11 goals) and have had to rely on goalkeeping to stay in games.

Houston (4-2-1, 13 points) returns home after a 2-1 win in Minnesota on April 13, with the game-winner coming from Sebastian Kowalczyk in the 77th minute. The Dynamo scored earlier on a Minnesota own goal.

Kowalczyk's goal was his first with the Dynamo.

"I'm thrilled for Sebastian, who does a lot of selfless work for us in that kind of 'false nine' role," Houston coach Ben Olsen said. "It's really, really nice to have him score his first goal for us, and that he gets a reward for all the hard work he's done over the last month or two."

Houston has won four of its past five matches. The Dynamo's success this season added to the 2023 season when it advanced to the Western Conference Final, prompting the team to sign Olsen to an extension this week that will keep him in the Bayou City through at least the 2026 campaign.

Saturday could mark the return for Houston of Mexican national team midfielder Hector Herrera, who has yet to play a game this season while recovering from injury.

The Verde head south after a 1-0 loss in St. Louis on Sunday. Austin (2-3-3, 9 points), which saw a two-game winning streak snapped, didn't even have a shot on goal (and just two overall) in the contest and suffered its third shutout loss of the season.

Brad Stuver made three saves for the Verde in the loss. Stuver, who has played every minute this season for Austin, leads the league with 40 saves, six more than his nearest competitor entering Saturday.

Verde center back Julio Cascante will miss the game due to yellow card accumulation, putting added pressure on an already porous Austin defense.

Transition from offense to defense has been one of the Verde's problem areas.

"When you emphasize that (in training) and that's the way you concede, definitely it's frustrating," Austin midfielder Alexander Ring said.

The sides have played eight times over the past three-plus seasons, with Austin holding a 5-3 edge. Houston won two of the three meetings last season, and the home team is 7-1-0 in the series.

They have never played to a draw.