Every morning, we send you a free email packed with Austin news, business, and entertainment. Join 16,000+ readers who wake up to Austonia's newsletter.
Featured
austonia newsletter
Most viewed
Austin FC's Sebastian Driussi scored on a penalty kick as the club took a 1-1 draw to Liga MX champs Atlas FC at Q2 Stadium Wednesday. (Austin FC/Twitter)
It may have just been an exhibition match, but Q2 Stadium was nearly packed to its regular season glory as Austin FC took a 1-1 draw to Liga MX champions Atlas FC on Wednesday.
The club was back in action with its first public match since November as hordes of fans in both Austin's signature Verde and Atlas' red flocked to the match.
While the game didn't count for anything in either league, it came as a welcome relief for many diehard Austin FC fans who were itching to once again put on their Verde gear. With an ever-rotating lineup, it was also chance for head coach Josh Wolff to iron out any kinks in the lineup and gain some momentum (and bragging rights) as the team preps for its season opener against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, Feb. 26.
From Verde fans to forward Sebastian Driussi's penalty kick goal, here are the biggest moments of the match:
Fans celebrate as Austin FC draws 1-1
Austin FC fan Brad was happy to return to Q2 after attending every home match last season. (Claire Partain/Austonia)
Driussi's PK goal proved enough to keep Atlas at bay as Austin FC ends its first match on Q2 soil with a 1-1 draw to Atlas FC.
The Liga MX champions were successfully stymied by an ever-rotating cast of new and old Austin FC players.
Similarly, old and new fans alike flocked to watch the exhibition match. Some brought their babies for their first-ever match, while other "Day 1" supporters were happy to be back at the "biggest party in Austin."
Austin FC fan Brad, who chose not to disclose his full name, was decked out in light-up Verde getup as he cheered on his team from the supporters' section.
"I miss coming to the soccer games and sometimes forgetting that I'm at the game because I'm having such a good time," Brad said. "That's the best part about it."
Many fans were already decked out in the team's new "Sentimiento" mint green jerseys just a day after it dropped, including season ticket holder Brandon Ojeda. Ojeda and his girlfriend Victoria Zeman (who gifted him the jersey) are hopeful for this season after a 1-1 draw to the Liga MX champs.
"They're showing a lot more energy (and are) a lot more faster paced," Ojeda said. "So hopefully this year will be a little better."
Already decked out in the new mint green jersey, fans Brandon Ojeda and Victoria Zeman are hoping for improvements this season. (Claire Partain/Austonia)
85' Austin FC scores!
85' | @SebadriussiOk slams it home from the PK spot!
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) February 17, 2022
Atlas 1 - 1 Austin FC pic.twitter.com/lkpxBzHwlv
With just minutes left in the match, star forward Sebastian Driussi managed to even the score as he won a penalty kick with five minutes to spare.
Austin's first Q2 goal of '22 came as a clever shot to the bottom left corner just in front of the supporters' section, which immediately erupted into cheers. Even though it's just an exhibition match, the goal was a welcome relief for fans who watched two straight scoreless home games at the start of last season.
46' Austin subs in its starters
63' | Several more #AustinFC substitutions.
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) February 17, 2022
In:
Jared Stroud
Alex Ring
Dani Pereira
Nick Lima
Julio Cascante
Žan Kolmanič
Danny Hoesen
Sebastián Driussi
Out: Everyone but Tarbell, Keller and Fagundez. 😅 pic.twitter.com/6NjFfCgvJx
Even in an exhibition match, Wolff isn't looking to disappoint the Verde horde. With a 1-0 deficit to start the second half, Wolff cranked it up with some vital subs including hustler Diego Fagundez and new standout center back Kipp Keller.
By the 63rd minute, the pitch was full of fresh faces. Taking right and left back were last season's starters Nick Lima and Zan Kolmanic alongside center Julio Cascante. Former No.1 SuperDraft pick Danny Pereira and Captain Alex Ring joined the midfield, while Jared Stroud, Sebastian Driussi and striker Danny Hoesen filled out the front. This is Hoesen's first-ever appearance at Q2 after a devastating injury left him out for the season just three matches into last season.
Atlas fans show their pride
Austin FC fan Enrique Hernandez packed his Atlas FC flag for the exhibition match. (Claire Partain/Austonia)
39' Atlas scores
El campeón Brayan Trejo anotando por primera vez en el Q2 Stadium!!! ⚽️❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/TO839tydEJ
— ⭑ Atlas FC ⭑ (@AtlasFC) February 17, 2022
After almost a full half of back-and-forth play, it was Atlas' Brayan Trejo who broke the silence with a well-aimed shot past diving Austin FC defenders to score in the 39th minute of the match.
With plenty of red dotted in the mix, Austin FC fans look like the colors of Mexico's flag from afar, and many fans are bridging their allegiance to both teams.
Austin FC Jose Rosales has lived in Austin for over 20 years. But for just this match, Rosales' Verde-and-white poncho is a nod to his home country of Mexico.
"Today, it's Mexico," Rosales said.
29' Back-to-back saves keep it scoreless
Despite some close calls on either side and a yellow card to Atlas that gave Austin a free kick near the box, both goals remain clean into the 30th minute of play.
Austin's Andrew Tarbell plugged a possible Atlas score with an outstretched hand to keep it scoreless after an Atlas breakaway left him nearly defenseless. Less than a minute later, Atlas' keeper was tested as well, but neither offense managed to score the first of the match.
Despite some good chances from the Austin offense, home team's defense has seen some minor errors and speed issues that may reflect lingering weak spots from last season.
Starting lineup
Taking the pitch tonight against @AtlasFC. #AustinFC x @YETICoolerspic.twitter.com/2ry8PxhFMi
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) February 17, 2022
Austin's giving less seasoned Verde players the chance to get exposure tonight. Subbing in for starting keeper Brad Stuver is Andrew Tarbell, while Jon Gallagher is using his Swiss Army knife versatility to sharpen his skills at right back.
Filling out the back is Freddy Kleeman and first season starter Jhohan Romana at center back and Hector Jimenez at left back.
Newcomers Jhojan Valencia and Felipe will join Wolff's son, Owen Wolff, at midfield, while Rodney Redes and veteran Ethan Finlay will fill out the wing positions for striker Moussa Djitte.
What to expect
This is Austin FC's first public match since the lackluster end to its first season in November. Since then, the club has bolstered its lineup with new players while thinning out a few of its original members.
If you picked Tomas Pochettino or McKinze Gaines for your Verde jersey last season, you might be disappointed: both left the club in the offseason. In Pochettino's stead at midfield are newcomers including Colombian midfielder Jhojan Valencia and 10+ year MLS vet Felipe Martins, while the front end has been strengthened with new recruits including former Houston Dynamo scorer Maxi Urruti and winger Ethan Finlay.
New center back Ruben Gabrielsen likely won't get a chance to play tonight—he arrived from his native Finland Tuesday night. But No. 5 MLS SuperDraft pick Kipp Keller likely will, and he's proven himself in the two preseason matches so far.
Austin FC is coming off a 4-0 win in an exhibition match against Texan foe Houston Dynamo on Saturday, but they face much steeper competition in Atlas FC: the team is the current champion in the highly competitive Mexican professional league, Liga MX, after winning the winter league (Apertura) championship in December.
Expect neither team to stick to its starting 11. Atlas has already started its spring season, so the club won't be looking to hurt any of its top players. Austin FC, meanwhile, will look to dust off its cleats and use the match as a dress rehearsal for the team's home opener against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, Feb. 26 at Q2 Stadium.
- Austin FC announces four-match preseason schedule ahead of ... ›
- Season recap: Austin FC's first season leaves fans wanting more ... ›
- Austin FC signs Felipe Martins ahead of 2022 MLS season - austonia ›
- Who's out and who's in for Austin FC's 2022 season - austonia ›
- Austin FC's Q2 Stadium is the biggest party in Austin - austonia ›
- Austin FC boosts defense with Kipp Keller as first pick of MLS ... ›
- Austin FC Sporting Director talks NYCFC and building MLS champs - austonia ›
- Austin FC beats FC Cincinnati 5-0 in first 2022 match at Q2 Stadium - austonia ›
- Austin FC makes MLS history at Q2 Stadium with five-goal Inter Miami win - austonia ›
- Austin FC faces San Antonio FC in city-v.-city soccer battle - austonia ›
Popular
Over a year after its first loss, Austin FC was all smiles as it beat LAFC to take home the top MLS West spot Wednesday. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Austin FC, which has flirted with the top spot in the MLS West this season, has now solidly reached the summit just a year after its second-to-last first season finish. The new top dogs are now 7-2-3 overall.
Here's a look at three highlights from the match:
Flashback in LA
For many Austin FC fans and naysayers alike, the match was more than a fight for the MLS West throne: it also served as a symbol of how far the team has come.
The two clubs first met on the Banc of America pitch as Austin FC saw its first game and first loss all at once in a 2-0 battle last April. It was an exciting but shaky start to the club's first season, and the loss seemed to set the tone for the rest of its inaugural year as the club dipped to second to last in the conference.
If Austin's first season was hallmarked by its first match, then its second-year success was foretold by its back-to-back five-goal victories to kick off the season.
Since then, the club has battled its own first-year shadow, claims of "bonus games" and a few unexpected obstacles—both on and off the pitch—but it has almost always come out on top.
That fight to the top was fully realized Wednesday, even as the club played its toughest opponent yet. Even with a man down in the middle due to Daniel Pereira's red card last game, the club kept its cool through even the trickiest moments of the match. Jhojan Valencia, who patched the Pereira hole in midfield, got his first MLS start and first MLS assist as Ruben Gabrielsen scored the first goal of the game.
Gabrielsen's goal
Nice turn and finish.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 19, 2022
Ruben Gabrielsen opens the scoring in LA for @AustinFC. pic.twitter.com/OMdTYgqS1x
Gabrielsen came to Austin FC as a potential hero for the team's center back position, but the club's resident Viking has already nabbed two goals in his first season with the team.
"That's center forward material," Austin FC announcer Adrian Healey said as Gabrielsen took control of Valencia's pass, paused to fake out the defense, and calmly tucked the ball into the left corner to complete the first goal of the match.
Feel-good Fagundez
🗣️ @AustinFC is off and running!@DiegolFagundez finds the short corner to make it a 2-0 lead in LA. pic.twitter.com/jgUr2IJQNe
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 19, 2022
Even as LAFC dominated possession for much of the match, Austin FC saw another wide-open goal opportunity crumble as midfielder Diego Fagundez's shot hit the corner goalpost in the 23rd minute.
But Fagundez wasn't finished. The midfielder was short on his Verde hair dye but full of surprises as he nimbly sunk a shot over LAFC defense to make it 2-0 with 10 minutes to go.
Fagundez, who has spent more time setting up goals for his teammates (becoming the No. 1 assister in the MLS in the process), finally took the center stage with his second goal this season.
Owen Wolff, head coach Josh Wolff's own son, had a scoring opportunity of his own foiled by the goalpost as he started his first MLS match as one of the youngest starters in the league this season.
But Austin FC wouldn't score again; instead, LAFC powerhouse Carlos Vela made the win a bit trickier in the 86th minute as he got past Austin keeper Brad Stuver to cut the lead in half. The other Wolff quickly subbed in a five-prong defense as the club kept steady for the final 10 painstaking minutes to win the match.
BONUS: Stuver's career-making match
Six saves on the night in LA for Brad Stuver! 🚫 pic.twitter.com/02V6hcUd3Y
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 19, 2022
After two weeks on the bench due to a knee gash, Austin's star keeper Brad Stuver had the Stuver-iest match of all time (yes, we're making it a word) as he pulled off six saves to help his team to No. 1.
Stuver looked like a pinball machine as he pulled off save after save with his feet, hands and body to keep it nearly 100% clean on the back end.
- Dominguez, summer heat shrouds Austin FC in 1-0 LA Galaxy loss ... ›
- Masks, Meh-teh and a miracle chicken: Meet the 'cryptids' of Austin FC ›
- Austin FC spends less than most first-year expansion teams - austonia ›
- McConaughey meets Ferrell: Austin FC's first match is a battle on ... ›
- From 'MLS in Austin' to Austin FC's first match: A guide to the first ... ›
