FC Dallas, Dynamo on different paths as they renew Texas Derby

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There is always plenty on the line when FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo square off in the Texas Derby, but the stakes will be a little higher than normal when the two teams square off on Thursday at BBVA Compass Stadium in downtown Houston.

More than just Texas pride will be on the line.

FC Dallas is looking to maintain its hold on first-place in the Western Conference, while the Dynamo are desperate just to end a seven-match winless stretch that's seen them fall 10 points below the postseason line with just 10 matches to play.

The two sides played to a 1-1 draw in Houston on July 21 and will battle again on Sept. 1 in Frisco.

The Huntsmen head to Houston on the heels of a dominating 2-0 home win over Minnesota United FC on Saturday that snapped the two-match losing streak and allowed them to stay atop the West table.

That match was delayed more than two and a half hours because of lightning and thunder in the area, but once it began, FC Dallas (13-5-6) was at the top of its game. Goals for the Huntsman came from Maynor Figueroa just before halftime, and Michael Barrios in the 57th minute and secured FCD coach Oscar Pareja's 100th MLS win.

"Overall in the game we had a very complete performance," Pareja said. "It was very steady, just keeping the score at zero early on. We probably could have scored a couple more. It just showed the seriousness of our players today. I'm very content for them.

"It's good to win but we will put our feet on the ground and keep grinding as always."

Dallas will get Reto Ziegler back from his one-game suspension after a red card against Seattle.

Conversely, Houston (7-11-6) conceded a pair of stoppage-time goals by Albert Rusnak to fall at home to Real Salt Lake 2-1 at home on Saturday.

Oscar Boniek Garcia put the Dynamo in front in the 36th minute with his first league goal since 2015 and were in great position to snap its winless streak despite facing 25 shots and being out-possessed 64 percent to 34 percent by RSL, but came apart in added time, with the winning goal coming on a penalty kick.

"We didn't have a good game -- we didn't play well," Dynamo coach Wilmer Cabrera told mlssoccer.com after the loss. "We tried to prepare the whole week to be sure that we, not only that we'd play well -- we needed to play well -- but we needed to get the three points. We didn't do any of the two."

Houston lost its fifth straight MLS match, and has been outscored 9-3 in the process. The Dynamo is tied for its longest losing streak in the club's MLS history.

"We needed these three points," Cabrera added. "We haven't been able to win in five games. This is my first time as a coach, even as a player, I never lost five games in a row in my life."

The Dynamo has not scored more than one goal in any of its past seven MLS matches. They have been without Alberth Elis the last two games because of a red card suspension. Elis has nine goals and eight assists on the season and could create a needed spark for the offense.

Five of the last six Texas Derbies have ended in draws. The lone exception was a 3-1 FC Dallas victory in August 2016.