Austin FC score season-high 3 goals, rout FC Dallas

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Diego Fagundez chips in a beauty from outside the box

Diego Fagundez puts his skills on display as he chips the ball perfectly into the net to give Austin FC a 2-0 lead in the 42nd minute.

Updated: Jun 22, 2023, 06:30 am

Ethan Finlay, Diego Fagundez and Gyasi Zardes scored goals as Austin FC produced its best offensive game of the season while romping past visiting FC Dallas 3-0 on Wednesday in a Copa Tejas matchup.

The match, which had its original kickoff pushed back an hour because of the oppressive heat in Central Texas, was delayed before its start for an additional 90 minutes because of lightning and rain.

The Verde posted their first-ever win against Dallas in the regular season after four losses and two draws over the past three campaigns.

Austin (6-8-4, 22 points) got on the board in the 17th minute as Finley was in the right spot as a cross from Julio Cascante rattled through the goalmouth. It bounced off FC Dallas keeper Maarten Paes, defender Sebastien Ibeagha and midfielder Edwin Cerrillo before Finlay punched it in from close range.

The Verde added to their lead in the 42nd minute, with Fagundez lifting a shot over Paes after Finlay made a back pass outside the box. The play started with a parry into the penalty area by Daniel Pereira that pulled Paes off his line and opened the back door for Fagundez's well-placed ball.

FC Dallas (7-7-5, 26 points) had as many shots on goal in the first half as did Austin, forcing saves from Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver in the second minute on a shot by Facundo Quignon and in the 24th, when Herbert Endeley was turned away by the Austin keeper at the bottom left corner.

Austin expanded its advantage to 3-0 in 58th minute when Zardes ripped a right-footed shot from the center of the box off Paes and into the net after an assist by Nick Lima. Cascante also received an assist on the tally.

The three goals were a season high in a game for the Verde after they scored three or more 12 times in their regular-season run ahead of reaching the Western Conference final in 2022.

Dallas, which did not have a shot on goal in the second half until the 90th minute, has dropped two straight matches and four of its past five. The Toros played without leading scorer Jesus Ferreira, who missed the game after being called up to the U.S. national team for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.