Dallas, Texas – In a tightly contested MLS showdown on Sunday night, FC Dallas earned a 2‑1 victory over Austin FC, thanks to a league‑leading performance by striker Petar Musa. Musa’s 73rd‑minute goal marked his 14th of the season, the most in the league, and gave Dallas the decisive edge.

Key moments

The match began with Dallas taking the lead early in stoppage time of the first half. Defender Lalas Abubakar converted a corner taken by Santiago Moreno with a powerful header, putting Dallas ahead 1‑0 at the break. Moreno’s delivery earned his second assist of the campaign and his 13th in 21 career matches.

Austin responded in the second half when 18‑year‑old homegrown talent Ervin Torres scored his first career goal. Torres’ unassisted strike in the 57th minute tied the game at 1‑1, showcasing the promise of the young forward after limited minutes in previous seasons.

Decisive finish

Petar Musa, who has been a consistent scoring threat for Dallas, broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute. With a well‑timed pass from teammate Joaquín Valiente, Musa found space in the box and placed the ball past Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver, securing the 2‑1 margin.

Goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois made two saves for Dallas, including a crucial stop in second‑half stoppage time on a shot by Austin’s Jayden Nelson. Stuver, who leads the league with 89 saves, recorded four saves for Austin.

Implications

The win improves Dallas’ road record against Austin to 3‑2‑2 and extends the overall series lead to 9‑2‑3, with a nine‑goal differential in Dallas’ favor. Austin continues to face challenges under interim coach Davy Arnaud, and former Union coach Jim Curtain is slated to assume the head‑coaching role after the season concludes.

Looking ahead, Dallas will travel to Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, while Austin heads to Seattle Sounders for their next match.

Original reporting: Fort Worth, TX Sports (HLL/CB) — read the source article.