FC Dallas didn’t get the result it wanted on Saturday night, but it still walked away from Toyota Stadium with something to celebrate.
The Burn played Austin FC to a 0-0 draw, ending a run of three straight wins while securing the Copa Tejas crown for 2026. It wasn’t the usual high-scoring affair that FC Dallas has produced in recent weeks, but it was a sixth clean sheet and enough to ensure the rivalry trophy returned to Frisco for a third time.
For FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill, however, there was still a feeling that Dallas left something on the table on Saturday.
“I think you saw that we had the best opportunities, and we just weren’t clinical in those moments,” Quill said. “We gave them hardly anything. I think their expected goals were 0.28, so it was virtually nothing. If you look at what we created versus what they created, we were superior.”
Chances without the finish
Neither side produced much in front of goal, but Dallas had the better opportunity to break the deadlock. Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver came up with a pair of important saves, including one of Kaick early in the match and then another one late in stoppage time on Logan Farrington to preserve the scoreless draw.
Quill credited Stuver while lamenting another night when Dallas created enough to believe it should have gotten all three points from the match.
“They have an outstanding goalkeeper,” Quill said. “That last save, and the save in the first half, I mean, I think if you look at the points he’s saved them, it’s quite a lot. Credit to him.”
The lack of a finishing touch was particularly noticeable for a Dallas side that entered the night accustomed to finding the back of the net with Farrington and Petar Musa.
“This wasn’t our typical night,” Quill said. “I think everybody’s used to four goals from us, so it wasn’t there tonight. But it wasn’t for a lack of trying or a lack of opportunities that we created.”
Dallas will not have to turn the page to next week, when they host LAFC in the final home game of a three-match homestand.
“We’ll work in front of goal this week, get our confidence up and go into LAFC ready,” Quill said. “They’re down because ties don’t excite us, but there’s plenty more football to come from us, and we’re going to be better for this game.”
