Top defensive teams square off in FC Dallas-Columbus matchup

Columbus Crew SC (9-2-3, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. FC Dallas (5-3-5, fourth in the Western Conference)

Frisco, Texas; Saturday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: The two squads giving up the fewest goals in MLS play square off when FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew take the field.

FC Dallas is 4-1-3 at home. FC Dallas has 12 of its 19 goals in the second half of games, scoring seven in the final 15 minutes play.

The Crew are 1-2-3 on the road. Gyasi Zardes leads the fourth-ranked scoring team in the Eastern Conference with seven goals. Columbus has scored 24 goals.

The matchup Saturday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.

TOP PERFORMERS: Franco Jara has five goals for FC Dallas. Harold Mosquera has four goals over the past 10 games for FC Dallas.

Zardes has seven goals and two assists for Columbus this year. Pedro Santos has three goals and five assists over the past 10 games for the Crew.

LAST 10 GAMES: FC Dallas: 4-2-4, averaging 1.5 goals, 0.9 assists, 4.1 shots on goal and 4.4 corner kicks per game while allowing one goal per game.

Columbus: 5-3-2, averaging 1.8 goals, 1.1 assists, 3.3 shots on goal and 5.3 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.3 goals per game.

NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: FC Dallas: Paxton Pomykal (injured), Kyle Zobeck (injured).

Columbus: Vito Wormgoor (injured), Darlington Nagbe (injured), Fanendo Adi (injured).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by , and data from ,.