Croatia World Cup Hopeful Scores Late Winner in Dramatic Texas Derby

Petar Musa's 86th minute goal lifts FC Dallas over Houston Dynamo in highest-scoring match in Copa Tejas history.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 3:50pm

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Petar Musa, a Croatian national team hopeful, scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute to lift FC Dallas to a 4-3 victory over the Houston Dynamo in the highest-scoring match in the history of the Texas derby. Musa's late heroics came after FC Dallas fell behind 3-1 early in the game, with a brace from his strike partner Logan Farrington also proving crucial.

Why it matters

The dramatic victory showcases the rising talent of Musa, who is aiming to earn a spot on Croatia's World Cup roster this summer. The match also highlighted the intense rivalry between the two Texas clubs, with the seven-goal thriller matching the previous record for most goals scored in a Copa Tejas clash.

The details

Musa, fresh off a hat-trick last week and a recent call-up to Croatia's national team, scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute to give FC Dallas a 4-3 victory over the Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo had raced out to a 3-1 lead by the 33rd minute, but Farrington's brace and Musa's late strike completed the comeback for FC Dallas. The match featured several key moments, including a red card for the Dynamo's Erik Sviatchenko in the 68th minute.

  • The match was played on Saturday at Toyota Stadium.
  • Musa scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute.

The players

Petar Musa

A Croatian national team hopeful who plays as a striker for FC Dallas. Musa scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute to lift his team to victory.

Logan Farrington

Musa's strike partner at FC Dallas, Farrington scored a brace to help fuel the comeback win.

Michael Collodi

The FC Dallas goalkeeper made a crucial diving save on the final play to preserve the victory.

Guilherme

The Houston Dynamo's new Designated Player, Guilherme scored his third goal in four games in the losing effort.

Erik Sviatchenko

The Houston Dynamo defender was sent off with a red card in the 68th minute for elbowing Farrington.

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What they’re saying

“Musa comes in the game and does what Musa does, gives us a huge lift and goals. He's special. He and Logan [Farrington] together are a lethal tandem.”

— Eric Quill, FC Dallas Manager

“I'm very excited. It's something special playing for your national team and also representing FC Dallas. I'm very proud and happy. Today it had only one purpose—to win the derby against Houston. Now, it's focused on the national team.”

— Petar Musa

What’s next

Musa will join the Croatian national team for World Cup tune-up friendlies against Colombia and Brazil in Orlando, as he aims to earn a spot on the World Cup roster.

The takeaway

Petar Musa's late heroics in the Texas derby showcase his rising talent and potential to be a key contributor for Croatia at the upcoming World Cup. The dramatic victory also highlights the intense rivalry between FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo, with the high-scoring match cementing the Copa Tejas as one of the most entertaining fixtures in MLS.