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Austin FC reserved their place in Major League SoccerWestern Conference final Sunday night, doing so with a 2-1 victory over in-state rivals FC Dallas at the Q2 stadium. The club will next meet Supporters’ Shield winners LAFC at Banc of America Stadium on October 30.
Austin scored the game’s opening goal in the 26th minute. Austin Midfielder Diego Fagundez it rolled at a corner towards the center of the box. His serve was destroyed by a party FC Dallas defenders and settled at the feet of Austin forward Moussa Djitte, who redirected the ball to the near post, past the outstretched arms of the Dallas keeper. Maarten Paes. For Djitte, who has relegated to the minor league at times for Austin this year, the hit was his first as a starter since September 2021.
Less than three minutes later, MLS MVP candidate Sebastian Druissi doubled Austin’s lead with a wonderful effort, collecting the ball near midfield, spinning around a defender at the top of the box and firing home from 18 yards out. Dallas didn’t get a good chance on goal until the dying moments of the first half when the midfielder Paul ArriolaHis low shot was easily gathered by the Austin keeper Brad Stover.
Big goal for Sebastian Driussi to give Austin FC a 2-0 lead #MLSCupPlayoffs!
What a finish from the MVP candidate.
🎥 @MLS | #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/oJMDQ96pxV
– The Athletic Soccer (@TheAthleticSCCR) October 24, 2022
Dallas made a key adjustment in the first half, bringing on the Argentine veteran Franco Jara as a number 9 and giving up on the USMNT striker Jesus Ferreira behind him, a move that momentarily changed the balance of the game. About twenty minutes after coming on, Jara was involved in Dallas’ only goal of the game, a close-range finish from the midfielder. Alan Velasco.
But Austin didn’t give up and, aside from Velasco’s strike, Dallas had only a couple of real chances to equalize: a close-range header in the 88th minute that was expertly deflected wide by Stuver and a free kick promising at the minute. later that Ferreira also put it on the grass.
By most every metric, Austin’s turnaround this season has been impressive. The club spent most of its inaugural season in 2021 mired at the bottom of the table, but have written a far more memorable story this year. The next step in the club’s journey – a massive game on Sunday against arguably the league’s most talented team – could book them a spot in the MLS Cup.
(Photo: Scott Wachter/USA Today)
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