The MLS conference semi-finals will conclude with an all-Texas showdown on Sunday as Austin FC host Dallas at Q2 Stadium.
Both teams came from behind in their previous encounter to advance on penalties as the Verde and Black edged Real Salt Lake, while the Toros narrowly defeated Minnesota United.
Match preview
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It was not as dramatic as some of their late comebacks this year, but the first-ever playoff match in Austin was eerily similar to many of their fixtures in the 2022 regular season.
After conceding twice in the opening 15 minutes and trailing 2-1 at half-time, manager Josh Wolff made a bold move, bringing on three substitutes in the second 45 minutes, only the second time that has happened in an MLS postseason fixture.
An unnecessary challenge from RSL striker Rubio Rubin changed Austin's fortunes dramatically last weekend as the Verde and Black poured on the pressure, out-shooting the visitors 25-3 following that expulsion.
While they became the first team to erase a two-goal deficit and win an MLS playoff game, they have reversed those scorelines numerous times during the regular season, trailing by a 2-0 score on five occasions this year but going on to earn at least a point each time.
With that victory last weekend, Austin became only the third team in MLS postseason history to have their first playoff fixture decided by a traditional penalty shootout and the second one to advance in that situation.
In five previous regular season affairs against Dallas, the Verde and Black have never won, coming back to draw the Toros twice in 2022 thanks to late strikes in the second half.
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The pressure of penalty kicks does not appear to be a problem for Dallas, who edged the Loons in the opening round for its third consecutive shootout triumph.
The Toros have proven to be cold-blooded when stepping up to the spot, converting all 17 of their penalties taken in their last three shootouts.
They have not been quite as successful away from home in the postseason, without a road victory since the 2010 playoffs when they edged the Los Angeles Galaxy (3-0) in the Western Conference Final.
Throughout the 2022 campaign, Nico Estevez's men were the top defensive unit in the Western Conference, conceding a mere 37 goals this year.
That stingy play along the backline has continued into the postseason, with Dallas conceding a goal or fewer in each of its late three playoff encounters.
The Toros come into this fixture having suffered only one defeat in their last 11 matches against their two state rivals (Austin FC and the Houston Dynamo), while they have one win and one loss against Texas-based sides in the playoffs.
Team News
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One of the five finalists for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award, Sebastian Driussi, had a brace for Austin in their first career playoff encounter, but it was goalkeeper Brad Stuver who was the hero, stopping two RSL penalties to send his team into the Western Conference semi-final.
In their last eight matches, counting their previous playoff fixture, Driussi and Moussa Djitte are the only players who have found the back of the net for the Verde and Black, though Diego Fagundez has three strikes in his career against the Toros, including the equaliser when they faced them in July, while Maximiliano Urruti has not scored against his former club.
Urruti and Alexander Ring are each one yellow card away from missing the West final, should they advance, while Freddy Kleemann remains on the sidelines because of a knee injury.
A pair of Panenka-like penalties from Franco Jara and Alan Velasco, combined with a save from Maarten Paes on Wil Trapp, sent Dallas into the next round of the playoffs, while Facundo Quignon's equaliser sent their match against Minnesota into extra time.
Jesus Ferreira was named the top young player in MLS this year, beating Brenner and Thiago Almada for the award, and he has four goals in his career against the Verde and Black, while Paul Arriola has two.
Arriola will be one caution away from suspension in this encounter, while Bernard Kamungo is out because of an ankle injury.
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Lima, Cascante, Gabrielsen, Gallagher; Ring, Pereira; Finlay, Driussi, Fagundez; Urruti
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Twumasi, Hedges, Martinez, Farfan; Lletget, Quignon, Cerrillo; Arriola, Ferreira, Velasco
We say: Austin FC 1-2 Dallas
Both sides showed their strengths and weaknesses in the opening round of the playoffs, but overall, we believe the visitors' experience and compact defending will be able to hold off a dangerous Austin side, who give away a lot on the back end.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
