Austin FC traveled to the league leaders on Sunday night and came away with a point, playing the Seattle Sounders to a 0-0 draw at Lumen Field.
The first half played out evenly, with each team taking six shots and having one end up on target. Sounders forward Raul Ruidiaz nearly saw a chance from a poor angle end up below the crossbar, while Cecilio Doiminguez whistled a shot from outside the box at Seattle ‘keeper Stefan Cleveland.
Austin had their best chance of the match in the 53rd minute when ATXFC were able to hit the Sounders on the counter. Diego Fagundez eventually made his way to the endline and pulled it back to Dominguez, whose shot was blocked by Nouhou Tolo.
The Sounders thought they found a game-winner in the 75th minute when Joao Paulo made his way through the Austin defense and crossed the ball to Fredy Montero on the backpost. But the ball hit off Raul Ruidiaz, who was in an offside position, and the goal was called back after Video Review.
Seattle had a couple more chances towards the end of the match, but Brad Stuver and the Austin defense denied them a game-winner. Manny Perez made his Austin debut, coming on in stoppage time for Dominguez.
THREE THINGS
SECOND CLEAN SHEET: Seattle came into the weekend as the highest scoring team in MLS so it’s no small feat keeping them off the scoresheet. Austin’s backline and midfield were connected and allowed Ruidiaz little space to add to his tally on the season.
CECILIO UP TOP: Josh Wolff inserted Jon Gallagher into the starting XI in place of Danny Hoesen, but the Irishman did not start up top. Instead Dominguez started at striker with Gallagher playing on the left wing. The Paraguayan looked lively in his new role and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in that role again.
ONE MORE GAME: After a weekend off, the Verde & Black will head to Kansas City for the last match of their eight-game road trip to start the season. After that match on June 12, Austin will open up Q2 Stadium on June 19 against the San Jose Earthquakes.
QUOTABLES
- Wolff on what he's proud of: "Really proud of the guys. First for answering the bell and competing and second grinding their hearts out and putting together a real collective effort."
- Alexander Ring on the team's performance: "I think we performed as a team. We attacked together, we defended together. Each and everyone did their job that their were assigned by Josh."
- Wolff on playing Dominguez up top: "I think Cecilio brings a little bit different dynamic as a center striker. He's got cleverness. He's grindy, he's gritty, he's unpredictable and he can also bring guys into the game."
