In its second preseason match against an MLS opponent, Austin FC scored three (3) second half goals to draw FC Dallas 3-3 in regulation on Wednesday evening at Toyota Stadium. The draw earned Austin its first point in the La Copita preseason tournament.
Freddy Vargas opened the scoring in the 10th minute for Dallas after picking up a ball in the midfield off the foot of José Martínez. The winger passed two (2) Austin defenders on his way into the box and placed his shot into the far top corner.
FC Dallas doubled their lead in the 34th minute from a set piece. Martínez headed the first chance off the crossbar and Matt Hedges found himself in front of the goal off the rebound and headed it in.
Austin scored its first goal of the match in the 49th minute as trialist Aedan Stanley had a cross deflected. The ball found the feet of Jared Stroud inside the box, who quickly turned to find the far post from a tight angle and beat FC Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer.
Just a few minutes later, ATXFC leveled the match. The ball hit the arm of a Dallas defender, and Diego Fagundez finished past Maurer from the spot in the 54th minute.
Cecilio Domínguez entered the match in the 73rd minute and immediately made an impact. The Paraguayan ended up 1v1 with Hedges in Dallas’ box and drew a penalty after beating him. He then calmly scored Austin’s third goal in the 74th minute.
Dallas found a late equalizer in the 86th minute when Vargas found Jesús Ferreira free at the top of the six-yard box. The US international slotted it past Stuver to level the score 3-3.
The match went to a penalty-kick shootout with Dallas scoring four (4) penalties, while Danny Hoesen missed and Dominguez’s effort was saved by Maurer.
Austin FC will play San Antonio FC at St. David’s Performance Center on Saturday, April 10 at 4:00pm CDT, in the third and final match of the inaugural La Copita preseason tournament.
Photos: FC Dallas