Quick question: what’s Austin FC’s style of play? You don’t have to get fancy and talk formations or build up patterns; keep it simple – do Austin FC want to have the ball, or do they want to defend and play on the counter? Despite head coach Josh Wolff’s reputation of wanting to play a possession-heavy system, the question is deceptively difficult.

Against last Saturday night’s Texas opponents, FC Dallas, Austin FC’s 65% share of possession betrayed a desire to hold onto the ball like they were playing keep away from someone’s twerp of a little brother. But the previous Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Austin FC’s possession total of 35% suggested the Verde and Black were avoiding the ball as though it was covered in fire ants.

And the last time Austin FC faced Wednesday night’s visitors to Q2 Stadium, the Houston Dynamo, Wolff’s team were similarly possession averse and only saw a scant 33% of the ball in a 1-0 victory on April 20th. Austin FC entered Wednesday’s contest with a season possession total reflecting their topsy-turvy relationship to the ball: 50.8%. In a season where plenty have questioned the overall quality present on Austin FC’s roster, Wolff and this team have oscillated between pretty possession and conservative pragmatism.

On Wednesday, substance won out over style for Austin FC against the Dynamo as the home team were out-possessed 59% to 41% and outshot 17 to 13 but managed to secure all three points in a 1-0 win thanks to a late winner from – who else? – Sebastian Driussi.

A sports writer on deadline’s worst nightmare, Driussi has now scored two goals in the dying minutes of matches this season – he at least had the courtesy to score this one before stoppage time, unlike his 101st-minute winner against the San Jose Earthquakes in April. In fairness to Driussi, his late magic sort of has a whiff of inevitability. Where else but Driussi’s rifle of a right foot was substitute striker Gyasi Zardes’ meek header from an Emiliano Rigoni corner kick going to land in the 87th minute?

Don’t take Driussi’s preternatural poaching when the clock of a soccer match is hovering around the 90-minute mark for granted, however. “I wouldn’t say expecting,” Wolff said in his post-match press conference when asked if he expected Driussi to deliver something special late in this tie match.

“When the opportunities do come, you hope your stars come forward,” Wolff continued. “Seba (Driussi) has been that star since he’s got here. He’s an incredible player, and he left everything he could out there on the field.”

It was announced earlier on Wednesday that Austin will host the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game, but before Driussi’s opportune moment of brilliance, there was minimal star quality on display against Houston. For most of the night, the match lacked urgency as both teams played like they had just played four days prior – which, of course, they did: this was the first Wednesday night slate of MLS matches in the 2024 season.

One notable aspect of Austin FC’s play from a largely un-notable opening 86 minutes against the Dynamo was the aggressiveness of Driussi and fellow attacking midfielder Alex Ring when Austin FC were in possession. Both midfielders – particularly Driussi – looked to crash the penalty area to stick a head or a foot on the end of crosses more so than in recent matches. Perhaps this was because one of Austin FC’s best crossers, Zan Kolmanic, made his first start of the season, filling in at left-back for the injured Guilherme Biro.

Largely solid in his first Austin FC season, Biro isn’t a prolific crosser. Per fbref.com, he’s averaging just 1.86 crosses per 90 minutes this season. Kolmanic completed three crosses against the Dynamo per fotbmob.com, and the threat of those whipped-in missiles (he attempted six crosses) from the Slovenian’s left foot gave Austin FC’s attack a different dimension.

“His (Kolmanic’s) exceptional quality is his service, his ability to cross, his internal passing is quite good – that was something we wanted to take advantage of,” Wolff said.

Unpredictable as Austin FC’s tactical approach has been in 2024, one aspect of the team’s play has been reliably consistent: Brad Stuver’s excellent goalkeeping. None of the Dynamo’s 17 shots were terribly threatening – Austin FC edged Houston on expected goals per fotmob.com, 1.20 to 1.04 – but Stuver’s fifth clean sheet of the season is well worth acknowledging.

“I’m very excited for the All-Star Game to come to Austin,” Stuver said post-match when asked about Austin hosting the event next year. “I think it shows the amazing atmosphere and the amazing club culture that the fans, Anthony (Precourt), and the rest of the ownership have built here.” If Stuver continues to play as he has this season, he may not have to wait til 2025 to enjoy the MLS All-Star Game.

Eric McCoy

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