By J.J. Pavlick 10/23/22
The final match in the Conference Semi-Finals sees Austin take on FC Dallas at Q2 Stadium. Austin has the stadium packed to the gills and loud, the Texas derby is set up to be another epic match today in American playoff soccer.
The match starts with a few quick fouls and a quick attack by Austin FC, they’re bringing the game to Dallas FC to start. Austin at the 3’ with a shot on the goal, goes just wide of the left post and out of play. The referee calls handling on Sebastian Driussi, so free kick for Dallas. The game continues to be physical between the two sides, with lots of early fouls to slow progression. In the 15’ Austin FC with another shot on goal that goes high and out for a goal kick. Now in the 23’ Julio Cascante with a shot from the center of the box, misses the goal wide right. A few minutes later Austin attacks again and draws a corner kick, the kick is taken, and the ball is played out by Alan Velasco for another Austin corner. The second corner is taken, and the cross finds M. Djitte who strikes the ball into the upper 90 on the left side of the goal for a 1-0 lead. The Goal gives Austin the early lead in the highly contested match in the 26’. A few minutes later Dallas Facundo Quignon commits a foul, the referee shows him a yellow card. The free kick is taken and S. Driussi buries his shot into the lower left corner of the goal to give Austin a 2-0 lead now in the 29’ of the 1st half. Dallas needs to settle things down before the game gets away from them. In the 45’ the fourth official shows a minimum of 3’ will be added to the half. In the 45’+1’ Paul Arriola sends a rocket toward the bottom left corner, Sebastian Stuver with the diving save to keep the 2-goal lead. The center referee blows the whistle at 45’+3’ to end the 1st half of play.
Dallas is getting out-bodied and outplayed by Austin FC, Dallas will need to find a way to handle the pressure and physical play. Possibly Dallas opens the half with a change in the lineup, we shall see what the manager decides to do to change the course of action in his favor.
The 2nd half is underway, Dallas FC makes a substitution in the 46’ bringing on F. Jara for B. Servania. The match continues to be highly physical between the bitter rivals, in the 48’ Dallas Jesus Ferreira rockets a shot just past the right post and out for a goal kick. Austin responds in the very next minute with an attempt of its own, Julio Cascante sends a header high and wide of the right post, out for a goal kick. The two sides continued to pressure the other hard at midfield not giving an inch and committing numerous fouls to keep control of the pace. In the 63’ Alan Velasco of Dallas fires a shot, blocked by the Austin defense, and out for a corner kick. The kick is taken, and it finds Matt Hedges whose shot is blocked and cleared out of danger. Goal Dallas FC in the 65’ by Velasco, slots his shot under the crossbar for the goal. In the 70’ Austin has a goal attempt but a huge save by Paes. The two teams traded chances at the goal over the next few minutes. In the 72’ Matt Hedges of Dallas is shown a yellow card for a bad foul. A few minutes later Dallas makes a substitution, bringing on J. Obrian for M. Farfan. In the 80’ Ferreira heads one on goal but it’s saved by Stuver. Austin responds with 2 attempts on goal in the 83’, they make two substitutions in the 84’ bringing on O. Wolff and Felipe Martins, and coming off are D. Fagundez and D. Pereira. A minute later a yellow card is shown to Austin’s Emiliano Rigoni.During the 87’ Dallas has a goal attempt, but Jadar Obrian’s header is saved. The 4th official shows a minimum of 3 additional minutes will be added. In 90’+1’ Ferreira misses high off a direct free kick from 20 yards out, the referee says it was last touched by Austin and awards a corner kick. It’s cleared out by Austin, Dallas creates a turnover and wins a free kick right of the goal, and the kick is taken and cleared out by Austin. The fans rise to their feet anticipating the final whistle, the game continues, Dallas makes a final push in the 90’+6 and their shot attempt is blocked out to midfield. The center blows the whistle to end the match and Austin FC is headed to the Western Conference Finals to face LAFC in Los Angeles, CA. The match will be played at 3 p.m. Eastern/noon on the west coast.
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