Eric Quill is confident that the teamwork displayed by the FC Dallas players is driving them toward the playoffs after achieving their third straight win.
Dallas triumphed over the Portland Timbers 2-1 at Toyota Stadium, with Logan Farrington and Joaquin Valiente scoring in each half, despite a late goal from Ariel Lassiter for Portland.
With this latest victory, Dallas remains in fourth place in the Western Conference, but they are facing competition from St. Louis City SC and Los Angeles FC.
Next, Dallas will take on Austin FC in the second of three home games, followed by LAFC on September 26, and Charlotte FC after the international break.
Quill emphasized the team’s goal of securing home advantage for the playoffs and highlighted the enjoyment his players are experiencing, which he believes contributes to their success.
“Every player’s contribution has been crucial to our success,” Quill stated. “When everyone is engaged and sharing in the effort, it creates a positive atmosphere.
“Everyone has a role, and it’s gratifying when those roles help the team thrive. We aim for home-field advantage in the playoffs because it statistically boosts our chances to advance.
“We want to play in front of our supporters, so we’re striving to secure spots for that. Personally, I aim for first place; my mentality is to push for the top, and we have ample time to achieve it.”
We’re big fans of our coworkers here. pic.twitter.com/K7ooHb79m2
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) September 17, 2026
Austin FC, also eyeing playoffs, bolstered their chances by defeating the Western Conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1.
Christian Ramirez netted two goals, sandwiching a strike from Brian White in the second half, moving Austin just one point behind ninth-place San Diego FC.
Alongside them, the Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Minnesota United, and Seattle Sounders are all contending for playoff spots as the season winds down.
Austin has not lost their last six league matches, and interim head coach Davy Arnaud expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming rivalry match against Dallas.
“There is always some added intensity in these weeks, especially when facing Dallas,” said Arnaud.
“Given our current position in the standings and our commitment to our strategy, it doesn’t change our approach. If anything, the rivalry and our previous encounter with them give us extra motivation, so we’re looking forward to it.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Dallas – Petar Musa
Musa notched an assist for the third consecutive match in the win against Portland, becoming the second Dallas player in 2026 to achieve a three-match assist streak, after Valiente.
In the last 15 seasons, only Jader Obrian has recorded a four-match assist streak for Dallas, achieving that in 2022.
Austin – Christian Ramirez
Ramirez marked his name in the books as the first Austin player this season to score multiple goals in a single match.
Before Ramirez, it had been over two years since an Austin player had a multi-goal game, with Gyasi Zardes last achieving this on July 6, 2024, against New York City FC.
A standout showing from our No!
As voted by you, @Chris_Ramirez17 is your @YETICoolers Man of the Match! pic.twitter.com/oaOc3vNukU
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) September 14, 2026
MATCH PREDICTION: DALLAS WIN
Dallas holds an impressive record at home against Austin, remaining unbeaten in their last seven encounters (W6 D1) and securing four consecutive victories. They have never allowed Austin to score more than once in a match at home, having outscored them 13-4 in those games.
The Toros extended their winning streak to three with the victory over Portland, the longest for the regular season since their three-game run in late 2020. The last longer streak for Dallas was four games, achieved in May-June 2018.
Meanwhile, Austin also remains unbeaten in their last six MLS matches following the win against Vancouver. This marks their third unbeaten stretch of at least six games in the regular season, just one game shy of their record seven-match unbeaten run from June-July 2022.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Dallas – 56.9%
Draw – 22.2%
Austin – 20.9%
Fan Take: This news is crucial for soccer fans, as it shows the competitiveness within the Western Conference and raises the stakes for upcoming matches. As teams vie for playoff positions, the excitement of watching rivalries intensify adds to the thrill of the league.
Source: www.soccernews.com
