Foreign Exchange: Three questions with Bayou City Soccer's Dustyn Richardson
In April, Verde beat Houston in Q2 Stadium for one of its best wins of the season so far. On Saturday, they'll aim to do it again in H-Town; we turned to Bayou City Soccer for a preview.
The return of the MLS season brings the return of Copa Tejas with it.
On Saturday night, Austin FC travels to Houston to face Houston Dynamo FC (on something called H-Town Night, where "fans can look forward to an exclusive Trae the Truth collaboration shirt in the Team Store and delicious Houston cuisine offerings") for its second Copa Tejas match of the year.
Back in April, Verde beat Houston 2-0 in Austin with goals from Jayden Nelson and Myrto Uzuni to bring their all-time record against the Dynamo to 9W 5L 1D.
To help prep you, we checked in with Dustyn Richardson over at Bayou City Soccer, who answered questions for us. We returned the favor; that's up now if you're interested in the intel we're providing our rivals. Sadly, this is the last match the Dynamo will play before their new back-of-the-jersey sponsors become the talk of the league. The resulting mirth for Verde fans will thus be deferred to next year, though we got in our guffaws on Tuesday.
To the questions!
What is the general mood around the Dynamo this season? From the outside, it seems like it's a team that's likely going to make the playoffs but isn't quite yet built to get into the conference final let alone win an MLS Cup. How does that lineup with how fans regard them?
I think there is a lot of hesitation around the fan base for what you mentioned. They're a pretty good team, but are they good enough to win trophies? The answer to that, at least right now, seems to be no. A lot of fans would love to see the club move Ezequiel Ponce, if possible, and free up a designated player spot, but we'll see if that happens. For now, I think the overarching mood around the team is cautiously optimistic with a little bit of hesitation.
The front office recently added Duncan McGuire — what will that do to change the team (and does this mean Ezequiel Ponce is on his way out)?
If there is a way to move Ponce, I think they will do everything to get that done. He has no league goals this season and on a DP salary, it will be tough to find a suitor to take him. It's a bit like the Sebastian Ferreira situation all over again.
McGuire is a similar profile to Ponce in that he's a physical striker but Ben Olsen and the coaching staff really like his ability to run in behind defenses and stretch the lines. If he's able to do that and regain the scoring acumen he had early on in Orlando he should open things up for Guilherme and Jack McGlynn and make the Houston offense much more dynamic.
The Dynamo started its 2026 Copa Tejas campaign with two losses ... is Copa Tejas even a focus for the team this year given that slow start, or is there belief they can get a win on Saturday to get back into the race? (They'd need to win Saturday, and hope Dallas and Austin take points from each other, even if that's just drawing once, to set up an Oct. 17 match hosting FCD to decide it.)
I think publicly they would say it's something they want to win, but deep down they probably know that ship has sailed, and honestly, they have bigger fish to fry. Beating Austin is something they will want to do for the rivalry and for the fans , but they desperately need a win after the midweek draw against D.C.
Olsen and the front office has talked about being a top four team in the West this season and they need to win games like this, derby or not, if they still want to accomplish that goal.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
The Guardian reported on Friday that Austin FC Academy players have been under investigation by Austin Police and the FBI, due to sexual abuse allegations from last year.
Interim head coach Davy Arnaud said Ervin Torres earned the minutes he made the most of on Wednesday night. He also explained why he deployed inverted wingers in the team's return.
Austin FC jumped out to an early lead on Wednesday and then let in a goal on a defensive lapse. But the true difference maker in the eventual win was a teenager subbed on late.
The Sounders, coming to Austin on Wednesday night, are coming off a 5-1 loss to their Portland rivals. That's putting the squad in a similar existential crisis to the one Verde faced in May.
The return of the MLS season brings the return of Copa Tejas with it.
On Saturday night, Austin FC travels to Houston to face Houston Dynamo FC (on something called H-Town Night, where "fans can look forward to an exclusive Trae the Truth collaboration shirt in the Team Store and delicious Houston cuisine offerings") for its second Copa Tejas match of the year.
Back in April, Verde beat Houston 2-0 in Austin with goals from Jayden Nelson and Myrto Uzuni to bring their all-time record against the Dynamo to 9W 5L 1D.
To help prep you, we checked in with Dustyn Richardson over at Bayou City Soccer, who answered questions for us. We returned the favor; that's up now if you're interested in the intel we're providing our rivals. Sadly, this is the last match the Dynamo will play before their new back-of-the-jersey sponsors become the talk of the league. The resulting mirth for Verde fans will thus be deferred to next year, though we got in our guffaws on Tuesday.
To the questions!
What is the general mood around the Dynamo this season? From the outside, it seems like it's a team that's likely going to make the playoffs but isn't quite yet built to get into the conference final let alone win an MLS Cup. How does that lineup with how fans regard them?
I think there is a lot of hesitation around the fan base for what you mentioned. They're a pretty good team, but are they good enough to win trophies? The answer to that, at least right now, seems to be no. A lot of fans would love to see the club move Ezequiel Ponce, if possible, and free up a designated player spot, but we'll see if that happens. For now, I think the overarching mood around the team is cautiously optimistic with a little bit of hesitation.
The front office recently added Duncan McGuire — what will that do to change the team (and does this mean Ezequiel Ponce is on his way out)?
If there is a way to move Ponce, I think they will do everything to get that done. He has no league goals this season and on a DP salary, it will be tough to find a suitor to take him. It's a bit like the Sebastian Ferreira situation all over again.
McGuire is a similar profile to Ponce in that he's a physical striker but Ben Olsen and the coaching staff really like his ability to run in behind defenses and stretch the lines. If he's able to do that and regain the scoring acumen he had early on in Orlando he should open things up for Guilherme and Jack McGlynn and make the Houston offense much more dynamic.
The Dynamo started its 2026 Copa Tejas campaign with two losses ... is Copa Tejas even a focus for the team this year given that slow start, or is there belief they can get a win on Saturday to get back into the race? (They'd need to win Saturday, and hope Dallas and Austin take points from each other, even if that's just drawing once, to set up an Oct. 17 match hosting FCD to decide it.)
I think publicly they would say it's something they want to win, but deep down they probably know that ship has sailed, and honestly, they have bigger fish to fry. Beating Austin is something they will want to do for the rivalry and for the fans , but they desperately need a win after the midweek draw against D.C.
Olsen and the front office has talked about being a top four team in the West this season and they need to win games like this, derby or not, if they still want to accomplish that goal.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Read Next
Report: Sexual abuse investigation involves Austin FC Academy players
The Guardian reported on Friday that Austin FC Academy players have been under investigation by Austin Police and the FBI, due to sexual abuse allegations from last year.
'Ervin's earned the opportunity': How an 18-year-old homegrown player delivered a signature win
Interim head coach Davy Arnaud said Ervin Torres earned the minutes he made the most of on Wednesday night. He also explained why he deployed inverted wingers in the team's return.
At the Whistle: Austin FC 3, Seattle Sounders FC 1
Austin FC jumped out to an early lead on Wednesday and then let in a goal on a defensive lapse. But the true difference maker in the eventual win was a teenager subbed on late.
Foreign Exchange: Three questions with Sounder at Heart's Jeremiah Oshan
The Sounders, coming to Austin on Wednesday night, are coming off a 5-1 loss to their Portland rivals. That's putting the squad in a similar existential crisis to the one Verde faced in May.