Points are a premium at this stage in the season.
With six games to go on the 2025 Major League Soccer regular season, FC Dallas currently sits three spots away from a playoff spot and four points back of ninth place San Jose.
FC Dallas will host rivals Austin FC this weekend at Toyota Stadium. The Verde sit above Eric Quill's club by a good bit in the standings after winning two straight games.
For Quill, the message is simple this weekend against his in-state rival.
“Winning is important at home regardless of the opponent. It is a rivalry game that we are extremely up for and outside of the rivalry, this game is massive for us,” said Quill. “It is a win-only mentality, that is how we’ve been approaching this game.”
The two sides met a few weeks ago in Austin, where they played to a 1-1 draw. Shaq Moore got the lone goal for FC Dallas before halftime, while Owen Wolff tied the match up in the second half.
FC Dallas defender Osaze Urhoghide believes Austin will look to stretch the Dallas defense more this time around than what they did in the draw last month.
"We've only played them a couple of weeks ago. We looked at video in training and I think they're probably going to try and stretch us out a bit more than be possession based," explained Urhoghide. "We have to be aware of them switching play as they have a few quick players."
Urhoghide has seen his fair share of derby matches during his playing days in Europe and he expects Saturday's match to be no different in terms of the emotions and intensity.
"It means more than just a game. Just the magnitude of what the three points would mean from this game means everything," said Urhoghide.
FC Dallas will be dealing with a bit of a goalkeeper situation going into this weekend. Veteran keeper Maarten Paes isn’t expected to return from his hamstring injury, while backup keeper Michael Collodi is suspended due to a straight red card that he earned in the club’s draw at St. Louis last weekend. Third string keeper Jacob Jackson made headlines last weekend off the bench with his 11 saves and Quill has full faith in his new keeper.
“After a game like he just played, I don’t think we have to do anything special with him,” said Quill. “He's had a great week so far and there is a belief in him. He's seasoned and been around a while, so he is more than capable."
Despite the changes in goal, Quill sees this match as a stepping stone for the start of his club's final six games.
"Win only from here on out," stated Quill. "We have to win and find a way in. This is a playoff game and it is already playoff time for us."
