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He had survived.

In a match played in temperatures in the 90s, even with a kickoff five minutes before 9 p.m., and heat indices over 100, City SC defeated Austin FC 6-3.

Several times during the game, City SC scored a goal that looked like it would be the one that ended it, only to give up a goal to Austin that made them have to do it all over again. When Samuel Adeniran scored his second goal of the game, on what turned out to be the final play of the game, only then could the team celebrate. If they had the energy.

鈥淧robably one of the hottest games,鈥� said City SC midfielder Eduard Lowen, who had assists on three of City SC鈥檚 goals and put a shot from 30 yards out off the crossbar. 鈥淚t was really a torture. But you have to suffer until the end to win that game, and I think that鈥檚 what we did.鈥�

鈥淭oday was brutal,鈥� said Parker, who played the previous two seasons in Houston, a city that will go toe to toe with anyone in terms of heat and humidity. 鈥淚t was really bad. I don鈥檛 know if it was worse than Houston, but it was close. Definitely close.鈥�

The match was City SC鈥檚 first since July 27, when it lost to in the Leagues Cup, and its first MLS game since July 15, when it beat 3-0. But the break didn鈥檛 seem to bother them too much. City SC had won four of five going into the break and pretty much picked up where it left off. With its closest pursuers in the Western Conference either idle or losing, City SC extended its hold on first to seven points over LAFC and Real Salt Lake and eight on Seattle. City SC has the second-most points in the league, seven points behind Cincinnati.

City SC also leads the league in goals scored with 49 and in goal difference with 19. Adeniran and Nicholas Gioacchini each had two goals, and Parker and Tomas Ostrak added one.

For Parker, the goals keep coming, as does the significance. The goal was the fourth of the season for Parker, two more than he had scored in the previous eight seasons of his career.

When he scored the franchise鈥檚 first goal on opening night in Austin on Feb. 25, he took the occasion to announce that he and his wife Kelsey were expecting their first child, a boy. Now, almost six months later, the child鈥檚 birth is imminent. Prior to the game, head coach Bradley Carnell told Parker the team was dedicating the game to him.

鈥淭his is for you,鈥� he said.

For Parker, this goal was for the baby, who is due any day now.

鈥淭his one鈥檚 definitely to Future Baby Boy Parker,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd obviously to my wife. She鈥檚 been a warrior throughout the whole pregnancy. She鈥檚 been at every game besides tonight; tonight might have been a little too close for her, a little too hot, but she鈥檚 been a warrior, and I really respect every thing she鈥檚 been doing.鈥�

Imminent fatherhood is not mellowing Parker. When the teams took a hydration break in the 79th minute, with City SC up 4-1 but with goalkeeper Roman Burki having had to make a series of strong saves to keep the lead, Parker could be seen yelling at teammates.

鈥淚 think we have to be better on the ball and better at managing moments of the game,鈥� he said, holding a can of Parker Pilsner, the beer he helped make with local . 鈥淲e were up 4-1. We can put that team away by just keeping the ball away from them and letting them do the chasing. It was a hot day. Instead, we鈥檙e the ones doing the chasing, and it leads to a lot of guys getting really tired.鈥�

All three of Austin鈥檚 goals came after the 60th minute, and two came after the 87th minute, in a clear sign to Carnell that his team was fatigued.

鈥淛ust unfortunate with the concentration levels, that鈥檚 the first thing that goes with the heat,鈥� Carnell said. 鈥淲hen you run out of gas, your brain is telling you to do things, but your body can鈥檛 do it anymore, and you get to feel with the players. But yeah, credit to them, they did the job early on, and I think that鈥檚 what got us over the line.鈥�

It wasn鈥檛 as if Austin was playing shutdown defense in the closing minutes. Twice, Austin got within two goals, and twice, City SC scored again to return the lead to three goals.

The time that mattered most was in the first 50 minutes, when City SC scored three times. Parker got his goal in the 22nd minute as he headed in a free kick from Lowen. The goal brought back memories of opening night when Parker got the first goal in franchise history in the 24th minute.

Remembering that night was something Carnell had stressed.

鈥淭his whole week was like that,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his whole week was talking about the first game, this whole week. We said earlier in the week with the press conference, the first half. And we sort of rekindled some of those memories before the game as well. We watched a bit of footage before the game, postgame, and all those emotions and just get us 鈥� the pressure of not playing for five weeks, there needs to be a release, and I saw a nice release from our players tonight within our principles.鈥�

Nokkvi Thorisson, Joakim Nilsson debuts

Two players made their debuts on Sunday. Nokkvi Thorisson, the Icelandic attacking midfielder the team signed during the summer transfer window, entered in the 81st minute, and center back Joakim Nilsson, who had two knee operations in November, entered in the 87th minute, right after Will Bruin鈥檚 goal made it 4-2.

鈥淣okkvi showed in transition he can be a real threat with some running in behind and some clean touches, top of the box, and leading others into play and trying to search for another goal,鈥� Carnell said, 鈥淎nd I think Joakim just comes in a moment where there鈥檚 a bit of chaos, there鈥檚 a bit of panic, there鈥檚 a bit of defending to do. So just for me, it鈥檚 just that he gets on the field and finds comfort, finds confidence and finds safety in what we are doing. And you know, he鈥檚 got the ability now to grow every single day with us and to continue to be an option for us.鈥�