Austin FC Earns Ugly Draw In First Road Match of 2024

“A point on the road is a point well-earned” would probably appear on more than a few white strips of paper, maybe opposite some lucky numbers, if Major League Soccer ever released a line of officially licensed fortune cookies.

By that reasoning, Austin FC’s north-northwest trek to Seattle was, on the most detailed level, a success. After a lopsided 0-0 draw with the Seattle Sounders, El Tree left Lumen Field with its first point of the year.

But my, that was one hell of a watch to get there.

With Sebastián Driussi sidelined again due to a hamstring injury, Austin FC managed just two shots in ninety minutes while giving up twenty-two. With zero corner kicks, the Verde and Black showed how little time they spent in Seattle’s defensive third, whereas the Sounders were almost always in Austin’s (nine corners).

And yet the Austin players boarded the plane home with a clean sheet and their heads held high despite some poor finishing from Seattle, four outstanding stops from Brad Stuver, and some old-fashioned good fortune.

Matt Hedges, a defender, expressed his pride at the effort his team put in tonight. “This performance gave us a lot of confidence as a back line and as a unit.”

Hedges continued, saying that, in the perspective of a defender,

“Those clean sheets are some of my favorites where you’re under the gun and battling for the whole 90 minutes,” Hedges said. “I know it’s frustrating for the opponents, so that’s my favorite thing.”

But while Austin’s defense was frustrating the Sounders, Austin’s lack of offense was frustrating its fans. Head coach Josh Wolff downplayed those attacking concerns.

“I’m not too worried about coming to Seattle and not out-possessing or outperforming Seattle at their home field. They’re a good team, they’re one of the best in the league,” Wolff said.

When Seattle defender Jackson Ragen struck Austin FC midfielder Dani Pereira with a shoulder in the 18-yard box during the second half, the team was awarded a penalty. However, referee Rafael Santos, who was filling in for the league’s regular referees due to lockout, waved play through.

Now, the Verde and Black will play two straight games at Q2 Stadium at home. On Saturday, March 9, they will take on St. Louis City in a rematch of the club’s terrifying season-opening loss from the previous year.