FRISCO, Texas — Appropriately dubbed "Fright Night in Frisco" by Austin FC play-by-play commentator Adrian Healey, the Verde and Black trick-or-treated their way to Toyota Stadium one day before Halloween, with the Copa Tejas trophy and Lone Star bragging rights on the line.
Austin FC lost to FC Dallas 2-1 on Saturday night, missing out on the first-ever Copa Tejas trophy for MLS. FC Dallas finished the season as Texas' top MLS team.
Austin FC midfielder Diego Fagundez opened the scoring with a curling shot from just outside the 18-yard box. It was Fagundez's 60th career goal and seventh for the 2021 season, which is tied for the team lead. FC Dallas forward Jesus Ferreira quickly equalized two minutes later, though.
Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff called the goal allowed right after the club's opening score "disappointing."
The match was deadlocked 1-1 at halftime.
In the 58th minute, Austin FC defender Hector Jiménez was booked with a red card, putting the Verde down a man for the rest of the match.
"It changed the game," Wolff said of the red card.
Zan Kolmanic was immediately subbed on for Moussa Djitte after the Jiménez red card. Tomas Pochettino subbed on for Cecilio Dominguez in the 65th minute.
Dallas stole the lead in the 80th minute after Franco Jara finished a right-footed shot off a deflection from Alex Ring.
Austin FC remains at the bottom of the Western conference standings in MLS with 28 points.
After the loss, Austin FC returns to Q2 Stadium next Wednesday for the club's final home game of its inaugural season. The club hosts Sporting Kansas City Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. Austin FC has yet to beat Sporting Kansas City this season, losing 2-1 in May and tying 1-1 in June. Both of those games were road matches.
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