Weekend Kicks
Austin FC takes on FC Dallas in conference semifinal at Q2 Stadium
The day the State Fair of Texas ends in Dallas, having brought the Lone Star State together in harmony, its home city and Austin are pitted against each other for soccer glory. On October 23 at 7 pm, Austin FC and FC Dallas face off in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals at Q2 Stadium. The winner of this single-elimination match will advance to the Western Conference Final.
Austin FC and FC Dallas are ranked second and third, respectively, in the Western Conference going into Sunday’s game. Austin qualified in a 3-1 penalty shootout win against Real Salt Lake on October 16.
Before the 2-2 tie, Austin had possession 69 percent of the time, with nearly double the passes, and better pass accuracy compared to Salt Lake, who started in the lead. MLS MVP finalist Sebastián Driussi scored both goals to catch Austin up, and Salt Lake was able to hold the more aggressive team back until the end, including two overtime periods.
The hard-won win made history: Austin became “the first team in MLS history to win four matches in a single season in which it trailed by multiple goals, and the third team in the last decade to advance in an MLS Cup Playoff match after trailing by multiple goals,” according to a press release.
Austin is now three points ahead of Dallas, one more than Dallas had on Austin in 2021 by the end of the conference. The two cities have been matched up twice this season, with the last game on July 16. Both ended in ties.
Tickets (starting at $129) are available on SeatGeek. Oak Collective Waitlist Members can access tickets via pre-sale. The game will be broadcast in English on ESPN and Spanish on ESPN Deportes, plus TUDN Radio Austin (104.3-HD2, KLQB) in Spanish.
