Austin FC interim boss Davy Arnaud praised his midfielders after their first match without Daniel Pereira.

Pereira, who featured in eight MLS games for Austin in 2026, completed his transfer to CF Montreal before the end of the MLS break.

However, Austin seemed unaffected as they returned from the break with a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders, ending a four-game winless run (D1 L3).

Midfielders Ilie Sanchez (goal) and Besard Sabovic (assist) both contributed to the win, which saw Austin move within five points of the play-off places.

Ahead of their trip to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday, Arnaud made sure to credit his midfielders for their display during the week.

When asked about how they coped without Pereira, Arnaud responded: “It was our first game without Danny [Pereira]. As I said earlier in the week, he’s a special player.

“He has qualities that are tough to find and that’s why such a good offer came in for him. He has special qualities.

“We have a group of midfielders that provide different things and is there going to be anybody that is exactly like Danny? No. That’s what makes Danny unique.

“But I though the guys that played, Ilie [Sanchez] and Sabo [Sabovic] did a really good job. When Owen [Wolff] came in, he impacted the game in a really good way.

“So, in terms of the middle of the field, I thought we did a good job against Seattle.”

Still the best party in Austin. 

: https://t.co/CPcW0brYyx pic.twitter.com/J9kTuloDod

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) July 24, 2026

Houston returned to MLS action with a 1-1 draw against D.C. United, missing the chance to close the gap on the top teams in the Western Conference.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Jack McGlynn

Jack McGlynn recorded seven chances created in Houston’s draw with D.C. on Wednesday, his fifth match with seven or more chances created.

Since Opta began detailed data collection of MLS in 2010, only Brad Davis (six times) has more such games for the Dynamo.

Austin FC – Ilie Sanchez

Sanchez scored his first goal of the season in midweek. He has netted exactly one goal in each of his last seven MLS seasons (including playoffs) dating back to 2020 and his time with Sporting Kansas City.

His last multi-goal season was in 2019 (two), while he has only failed to score in an MLS season once (2017).

MATCH PREDICTION – HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN

Houston have lost only three of their last 18 regular-season home matches against the other two Texas MLS clubs dating back to 2017 (W7 D8).

Austin are winless in 12 straight away matches in all competitions (D3 L9), last winning on the road in last season’s US Open Cup semi-final.

Austin’s last away win in regular-season play was a 2–1 victory at Sporting KC in early September 2025.

However, only one of the 15 all-time meetings between Houston and Austin have ended in a draw, with Austin winning eight of the other 14 matches. Austin are unbeaten in their last three against the Dynamo (W2 D1) after Houston won two in a row.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston Dynamo – 54.9%

Draw – 22.1%

Austin FC – 23%