Austin FC Trounces DC United

Austin FC won for the first time in ten weeks, breaking a 10-game winless streak, by defeating the D.C. United 3-to-0 at Q2 Stadium.  Austin keeps it meager playoff hopes alive with the victory. 

The win should have given Austin cause to celebrate.  Instead, Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff appeared defensive, combative, and uncomfortable before a friendly press corp. 

“Pleased to get three points; it’s been a long time coming,” said Woff. “We give ourselves a bit of a heartbeat.  We’ll get ready, try to refresh, for LAFC.” 

Wolff went on to say that “evaluations and that stuff can wait for the off season,” giving the impression he was fearful of his future. 

To shake things up, Wolf started Owen Wolff at outside back, instead of Nick Lima, and paired Alex Ring and Jhojan Valencia at the defensive midfield. The changes gave the lineup an edge that had been previously missing. 

Austin grabbed the lead in the 11th minute when Sebastian Driussi’s crossing pass found Will Bruin from four yards out, beating goal keeper Alex Bono. 

Driussi double Austin’s lead in 21st minute, collecting Alex Ring’s pass, and finding the back of the net from six yard away.  The goals was Driussi’s fifth in his last six league games at Q2 Stadium.

Matt Hedges headed Emiliano Rigoni’s corner kick for the final score of the match in the 64th minute, after replacing the heat-exhausted Leo Vaisanen ten minute earlier. 

Statistically, the match belonged to DC United.  They controlled time of possession (54 to 46%), shots (19 to 13), and shots on goal (8 to 3).  DC United lagged only in the statistic that mattered: the final score.