MATCH NOTES
- Nkosi Tafari scored the game-winning goal, his third overall goal of 2023
- Maarten Paes picked up his sixth clean sheet of the season
- Asier Illarramendi made his FC Dallas and MLS debut
- MLS Box Score
FRISCO, Texas (August 26, 2023) – FC Dallas (9-9-6, 33 points) defeats Austin FC (9-11-5, 32 points) thanks to a late goal from defender Nkosi Tafari in the 97th minute of play on Saturday night at Toyota Stadium.
RECORD VERSUS AUSTIN FC
FC Dallas is 2-1-0 against Austin in 2023 and 5-1-2 all-time against its I-35 rivals in regular season play.
NO QUIT
FC Dallas have scored 10 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Atlanta United (16) and DC United (13) have scored more in Major League Soccer this season.
THE LUCKY THIRD
Nkosi Tafari scored his third goal and first game-winning goal of the season for FC Dallas. The goal gave Dallas the win against Copa Tejas rival Austin FC in the last minute of the match. Defensively, Tafari recorded three clearances, an interception, nullifying the Austin FC offense to only two shots on target.
EL DEBUT
Midfielder Asier Illarramendi made his FC Dallas debut in the 58th minute of the match. The former Real Sociedad and Real Madrid midfielder becomes the 10th player to make his debut for Dallas in the 2023 season. Illarramendi signed with FCD as a free agent on August 3.
SIX CLEAN SHEETS FOR PAES
Goalkeeper Maarten Paes continues to impress behind the sticks as he registered his sixth clean sheet of the 2023 MLS regular season. Paes finished the match with two crucial saves helping Dallas continue its home unbeaten streak against Austin FC.
UP NEXTFC Dallas returns to MLS action with a road trip to St. Louis CITY SC on Wednesday, August 30. The match kicks off at 7:30PM CT on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, the FC Dallas app, Talk Radio 1190AM and TUDN 1270AM.
