FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas faces in-state rivals Austin FC in the Western Conference Semifinal this Sunday, Oct. 23 at 7PM at Q2 Stadium.
Here's everything you need to know before the game.
How to Watch
TV (English): The match will be shown on ESPN with Jon Champion and Taylor Twellman on the call beginning at 7PM.
TV (Spanish): The game will also be shown in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.
LISTEN
English: If you can't watch the match, you can listen to all the action on iHeartMedia 1190AM and the iHeartMedia app hosted by Sam Hale with broadcasters Mark Followill and Steve Davis beginning at 6:45PM.
Spanish: Carlos Alvarado and Rafa Calderon will call the game in Spanish on 1270AM, starting at 7PM CT.
Match Overview
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- FCD record: 14-9-11 (53 points - 3rd in West)
- ATX record: 16-10-8 (56 points - 2nd in West)
- FCD vs. ATX all-time: 3-0-2 (12 goal scored, 7 goals conceded)
- FCD vs. ATX all-time away: 1-0-1 (7 goal scored, 5 goals conceded)
STORY LINES
How We Got Here
FC Dallas advanced to its first Western Conference Semifinal since 2020 in dramatic fashion with a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Minnesota United in the opening round at Toyota Stadium. Dallas found itself 1-0 behind early in the second half after Emanuel Reynoso put the Loons ahead with a low finish into the bottom corner. Their lead only lasted 11 minutes when Facundo Quignon found the equalizer at the back post thanks to a flick-on header from captain Matt Hedges on a corner kick. The scores were still level following two periods of extra time, sending the match to penalties. Goalkeeper Maarten Paes gave FCD the advantage by saving Wil Trapp's attempt down to his right. All four of Dallas' initial kick takers (Franco Jara, Sebastian Lletget, Matt Hedges and Jesús Ferreira) converted to give Alan Velasco a chance to win it from 12 yards out. The 20-year-old held his nerve and chipped his decisive penalty past Minnesota 'keeper Dayne St. Clare to give FC Dallas an emotional win in front of a sold-out crowd.
Battle for Texas
Playoff matches are big. Local rivalry matches are big. Add them together and it's hard to overstate how massive this game is for both clubs. For Dallas, it's a chance to reach the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2015. And for Austin, a team in only its second season of play, it's undoubtedly the biggest game in club history. The fact that it's between Texas' two strongest teams this year makes it just that much bigger. Dallas has had the upper hand in the matchup since Austin debuted in MLS in 2021, with FCD winning all three games against its I-35 rivals last year. But it's been much more even in the current campaign with the clubs drawing both games against one another (2-2 at Q2 Stadium and 1-1 at Toyota Stadium). Austin is the higher seed and has the home field advantage on Sunday but FCD has never lost to Austin in their five meetings. So, who has the edge? We'll have to wait and see.
Whoever Advances...
The winner of Sunday's game will travel to face top-seeded Los Angeles FC in the Western Conference Final on Sunday, Oct 30. LAFC toppled El Tráfico rivals LA Galaxy Thursday night in an exciting 3-2 slugfest thanks to a 94th-minute winner from Chicho Arango. All MLS Cup Playoff matches are single-elimination with the higher seed earning home field advantage.
