Three Players to Watch: FC Dallas
(image via FC Dallas)
Each week we’ll be looking more into the Houston Dynamo’s opponent, talking to media that covers the team, digging into what we can expect from that squad, and in this series, taking a look at three players to watch from the upcoming opponent. FC Dallas comes to Shell Energy Stadium this weekend for a Texas Derby to kick off the 2025 season.
There are two pretty obvious players for this list. Finding a third “threat” on this Dallas team was a challenge due to the high staff and player turnover; however, there are three players who, if they play, could make a difference against the Dynamo on Saturday.
Luciano Acosta
He just had to be here, didn't he? The Argentine ended the 2024 season in MVP coversation due to his 14 goals and 19 assists for Cincinnati. Dallas will heavily rely on some of that “Acosta magic” this season after spending $5 million to bring him in. At his best, he can punish any small mistake the Dynamo make in the midfield.. His playstyle heavily relies on his technical ability but he has shown signs of weakness against defensive-oriented squads. Acosta showed some of his magic, specifically in game one of the 1st round series against New York City FC in last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs, where he notched the assist that gave his side a 3-1 lead. The fairytale was short-lived, however, as games 2 and 3 proved to be a physical test for Acosta, where he couldn’t get much going. If the Dynamo look to put physical pressure on Acosta, he could have a bad start to the 2025 season. Despite the negativity, there is something new that Acosta has arguably never had—a proper co-star.
Petar Musa
A staple in Dallas’s team in 2024 returns to Dallas for another season where he aims to build off his 15 goals and 3 assists in 29 matches. Under new coach Eric Quill and Acosta, Musa will be the same threat but with improved service. Houston has to worry about his physicality in the box and his ability to drop into the midfield and provide support for other players to push into more advanced offensive positions. When healthy, this is a dangerous, no-nonsense 9. Musa will test the new Dynamo center back partnership of Erik Sviatchenko and whoever replaces Micael, whether that be Daniel Steres or Ethan Bartlow.
Shaq Moore
The defender brought in to fix Dallas’ bad defense? Yep, that’s certainly something to note. He was a solid piece in Nashville’s disappointing 2024 season and played reasonably well. Out of 23 appearances, Moore started in 19 games and provided consistent performances. Is Shaq Moore the best defender in MLS? No. Is he a solid piece that could complement Quill’s fast-paced and offensively tuned lineup? I would argue that he is. Moore might be seen higher up on the field and you could see him making a good first impression in his new threads. Moore could give the Dynamo defense problems on their left side, especially if Franco Escobar is unable to play.