FC Dallas delivered a strong performance to defeat Austin FC 3-1 at Toyota Stadium on Wednesday night, claiming the Copa Tejas for the first time since 2021. Goals from Paul Arriola, Petar Musa, and Marco Farfan sealed the win for Dallas, enhancing their home record to an impressive 8-3-2.
The match kicked off with an early goal from Paul Arriola in the 10th minute, set up by a swift counterattack involving Logan Farrington and Tsiki Ntsabeleng. Austin FC quickly responded, equalizing in the 16th minute when Dani Pereira threaded a perfect pass to Gyasi Zardes, who calmly finished past the Dallas goalkeeper.
Despite Austin's dominance in possession, shots on goal, and total passes during the first half, the score remained tied at 1-1 as the teams headed into the break.
The second half began dramatically as FC Dallas was awarded a penalty in the 56th minute. Although Brad Stuver initially saved Petar Musa’s shot, a retake was ordered due to Stuver being off his line. Musa made no mistake on his second attempt, putting Dallas ahead 2-1.
Austin’s hopes for a comeback diminished when they were reduced to 10 men, allowing Dallas to capitalize on the numerical advantage. Marco Farfan secured the victory with a goal in the 74th minute, assisted by Paul Arriola.
Goal-Scoring Summary:
- FCD (1-0) – Paul Arriola (assisted by Logan Farrington, Tsiki Ntsabeleng) 10’
- ATX (1-1) – Gyasi Zardes (assisted by Dani Pereira) 16’
- FCD (2-1) – Petar Musa (penalty kick) 56’
- FCD (3-1) – Marco Farfan (assisted by Paul Arriola) 74’
Match Information:
- Venue: Toyota Stadium (Frisco, TX)
- Weather: Cloudy, 82 degrees
- Referee: Armando Villarreal
- Assistant Referees: Jason White, Diego Blas
- Fourth Official: Chris Penso
- VAR: Sorin Stoica
- AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
Next Match:
Austin FC will face Charlotte FC on Saturday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. CT. The match will stream live in English and Spanish on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app and broadcast on iHeart Radio’s ALT 97.5 in English and TUDN Radio Austin (104.3-HD2, KLQB) in Spanish.
Match Notes:
- Petar Musa, Paul Arriola, and Marco Farfan scored for FC Dallas.
- Ema Twumasi and Nkosi Tafari made their 100th MLS regular season appearance.
- Dallas secured their third consecutive win at Toyota Stadium, boasting an 8-3-2 home record this year.
Player Highlights:
- Paul Arriola: Scored his second goal of the season, both at Toyota Stadium.
- Logan Farrington: Provided his fifth assist of the season, leading all 2024 MLS SuperDraft rookies in assists.
- Petar Musa: Scored his first-ever penalty kick, bringing his tally to 14 goals across all competitions this season, tying for the most league goals scored in a first year with FC Dallas.
- Ema Twumasi and Nkosi Tafari: Reached 100 MLS appearances, with Tafari leading all defenders in ball clearances this season.
- Marco Farfan: Scored his first goal of the regular season, making him the fourteenth different scorer for FC Dallas this year.
Up Next: A Rare Visit to New England
FC Dallas will next travel to face the New England Revolution on Saturday, July 20, with the match kicking off at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, the FC Dallas app, and Talk Radio 1190 AM.
