FC Dallas returned to league play and to their winning ways on Saturday night, downing rivals Austin FC 2-1. The win puts Dallas in the pole position of the 2026 Copa Tejas race with six points and bragging rights over the entire state of Texas.
Dallas controlled this one early, hitting Austin with several first half shots and were rewarded minutes before the halftime break as Lalas Abubakar scored a header off a Santiago Moreno corner kick. The goal was Abubakar’s first of the season in only his second start of 2026.
Austin found a leveler through Ervin Torres 12 minutes into the second half, but the answer for Dallas came from the name every FC Dallas fan has expected to see, Peter Musa, who buried his 14th goal of the season.
This marks the first win in league play for FC Dallas since late May, snapping a three-game winless run since the end of the World Cup break.
Key Moments
12’ - Early chance from FC Dallas. Valiente helps set up Moreno from outside the penalty box but Moreno’s attempt is saved by Stuver.
22’ - Big chance from Valiente! He takes a shot from distance that hits off an Austin defender, forcing Stuver to make a diving save out for a corner kick.
45’ - Big chance! Musa nearly gets on the board but his shot is right at Stuver.
45+2’ - GOAL! Abubakar gets on the end of a corner kick from Moreno to give Dallas the lead! What a perfect header from the veteran for his first goal of the season!
57’ - Goal Austin. Torres collected the ball outside the penalty area after Urhoghide cleared the ball out. He made a couple of touches before firing a shot through traffic to beat Sirois.
73’ - GOAL! Musa puts Dallas back on top! A clinical finish that hits off the post and goes into the back of the net.
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Instant Reaction
There really isn’t anything better than beating a rival in their own building. Dallas looked more in control of this one early on and then managed hold on late in the game. The rotation Quill used in this one appeared to work, which bodes well for Wednesday and Saturday coming up.
About the Subs
Quill only went to his bench three times on the night, by bringing on Logan Farrington first in the 70th minute for Moreno. Kaick came in nine minutes later for Ramiro. The final subs came on six minutes later as Ran Binyamin and Clay Holstad came on for Musa and Joaquin Valiente.
Man of the Match
While Musa got the goal, this may have been one of the better performances out of Moreno so far this year.
Where does this fit into the season
The win pushes Dallas back into 5th place with 30 points on the year.
What’s next for FC Dallas
The triple-game week continues for Dallas, first with a trip to Utah to battle Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, before a Saturday night match at Vancouver.
