Satisfying as it may (or may not) have been for Austin FC fans to witness their team grab its first point of the 2024 MLS season on the road in Seattle last Saturday, how Josh Wolff’s team achieved the result shouldn’t be considered a blueprint for future successes. Get outshot 23-2 as Austin FC did against the Sounders, and in most matches, you won’t pick up a point.

Despite the fortuitous nature of the Verde and Black’s 0-0 draw in the Pacific Northwest, the glass-half-full crowd would have been hopeful the match could be a catalyst for future, improved performances – performances that might even yield three points instead of just one. Viewed optimistically, the Seattle result could have provided Austin FC with that most nebulous of contributors to team success: momentum.

Whether it was momentum or simply having Gyasi Zardes and Diego Rubio on the pitch at the same time for the majority of a match, Austin FC were better on Saturday night at Q2 Stadium against visiting St. Louis City SC. But a second-half stoppage time goal from St. Louis’ Celio Pompeu ensured the match concluded with a 2-2 scoreline that leaves Austin FC still searching for its first win of the nascent season.

The home team were outshot 10-2 in the first half (and 17-5 on the night), but still went into halftime up 1-0 via a 14th-minute headed goal from center-back Matt Hedges. Austin FC ranked 14th in MLS with nine set-piece goals in 2023, but the Verde and Black were unlucky not to have gotten more from dead-ball situations. Per Opta, Wolff’s team produced the 5th-most expected goals (xG) from set pieces in the league last season with 11.97. Cashing in more from set-piece opportunities would be a great way for Austin FC to climb the Western Conference standings in 2024.

A long Jon Gallagher throw in led to Austin FC’s second goal of the night after St. Louis midfielder Eduard Lowen’s penalty kick – St. Louis were awarded the penalty after Alex Ring unwisely fouled Aziel Jackson just inside the box – tied the match at one in the 49th minute. Austin FC center-back Julio Cascante was pushed forward for the throw in and was lurking on the edge of the six-yard box to head a Ring cross by octopus-limbed St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Burki two minutes after Lowen’s penalty.

Since Austin FC’s projected best center-back, Leo Vaisanen, exited the season opener against Minnesota United in the first half, Cascante and Hedges have performed admirably together as a center-back pairing. The duo adding goals to their fine defensive work will be a welcome bonus for Wolff.

Notably averse to possession with their direct, Red Bull-style soccer, St. Louis City out-possessed Austin FC 60% to 40%, per fotmob.com. For the second time in three matches this season (Seattle also had more possession last week), Austin FC have had less possession than their opponents. When asked post-match if Austin FC are deliberately looking to have less of the ball in 2024, Wolff pointed to Seattle’s quality and St. Louis trailing for most of Saturday’s match as reasons why his team have been out-possessed the past two games.

“We’re not going to go to Seattle and out-possess them or out-play them,” Wolff said of Austin FC’s trip to Seattle. In regards to St. Louis, Wolff added: “What the end (possession) totals are is a little bit reflective of we’re winning the game.”

To help protect Austin FC’s 2-1 lead, Wolff switched to back five in the 90th minute with Brendon Hines-Ike making his debut with the club to play alongside Hedges and Cascante as one of three center-backs. Guilherme Biro (subbed on for Kolmanic in the 68th minute) played left wing-back, and a clearly fatigued Ethan Finlay dropped back from right wing to right wing-back. Starting right-back Jon Gallagher, a more natural fit for a right wing-back role, had to be subbed off late due to cramping according to Wolff.

Unfortunately for Finlay, Pompeu’s equalizer skimmed off his knee before evading Cascante’s head and goalkeeper Brad Stuver’s hand to find the back of the net. Stuver was superb for the third time in three matches in 2024 – saving a Lowen long-range effort off the line in the first half – and spoke post-match about the personality Austin FC has shown beginning the season against difficult opposition without captain and 2022 MVP-candidate Sebastian Driussi.

“Obviously getting Seba (Driussi) back will be a good addition and will give us a little more calm on the ball” Stuver said. “I think for us right now, the heart and soul that we’ve been playing with, the ability to grind these games out, I think is something to admire,” he added.

Big picture: ugly as the 2-1 defeat to Minnesota to open the season was, achieving draws against 2023’s top two teams in the Western Conference without Driussi is commendable for Austin FC. The overall performances will have to improve – and Driussi’s return should help – but considering the team is winless, the 2024 season isn’t off to the worst start for Wolff and co.

Eric McCoy

See Full Bio