WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: SEATTLE SOUNDERS
Welcome back to What You Need To Know, a preview for Austin FC fans to check in on their next match.
Austin FC takes its first road trip of the season tonight to take on the Seattle Sounders in the Pacific Northwest. As we all know Austin is coming off a disappointing home opener where the 2-1 scoreline flattered them thanks to Brad Stuver’s continued excellence in goal and a late Guilherme Biro goal. The only MLS keepers with the same number or more saves than Stuver so far this season (Drake Callendar and Zac MacMath) have already played two matches. Austin’s inability to stop the opponent from getting shots, and especially quality shots is a huge problem that has only gotten worse in year four. Stuver led the league in saves in 2021 and 2023 and looks set to be amongst the league leaders again unless positive changes are made.
I had to caveat “changes” above because there are changes, just not necessarily the ones we’d like to see. Austin is already out one starter at center back with Leo Väisänen out 6-8 weeks and their 4th CB, Brendan Hines-Ike out for tonight. Josh Wolff in a press conference this week listed off other options and included Austin FC II stalwart Sal Mazzferro and newcomer Antonio Gomez as options who could be on the bench for the night.
Not that Seattle doesn’t have their own injury issues after their 2-1 loss to LAFC in the premier match of opening weekend. They’re down multiple starters tonight, but playing at home, and thanks to their excellence as an organization, including having one of the best coaches in MLS, they’ll always be competitive, even if their team is full of teenagers.
Last Minute Short-Term Agreements:
Just moments ago Austin FC announced that Valentin Noël, Salvatore Mazzaferro, and Antonio Gomez have all signed a short-term agreement for tonight’s match against the Seattle Sounders. This is most likely due to the injury woes Austin FC is currently going through. Now if you are confused about how this works here’s a bit of an explanation. Per 2024 MLS Roster Rules & Regulations, clubs can sign players aged 25 or younger from their MLS NEXT Pro affiliate to a max of four four-day contracts per season (totaling 16 days). A player can be on up to four league match rosters but can play in only two league matches. No restrictions apply to non-league games during Short-Term Agreements.
Fans will be very excited to see Noël on this list as a huge chunk of the fan base believes he is ready for first-team action.
History vs. Austin FC:
Austin FC has only beaten Seattle once in their history, but that was last season’s win in Seattle, a mid-week match that few (if any) fans expected them to win. It was also the only match Austin FC has won in the Pacific Northwest.
Players to Watch:
Jordan Morris
Seattle started in a two-striker setup against LAFC but due to their injury report may have to switch to Morris playing up top by himself or pair him with journeyman Daniel Musovski. Morris is a much better finisher than creator (in 2023 he scored 11 goals and had 0 assists) and Seattle would need to include more passing and creativity around him, especially with Albert Rusnak out.
Andrew Thomas
The Russian goalkeeper serves as Stefan Frei’s backup and was pressed into duty last week with him out. Frei has been one of the best keepers in MLS for a decade, although part of that is even if the ball goes over the line goals aren’t given. Thomas played in the Watford academy and has started only 16 matches since 2021 when he came to MLS from Stanford University where he was a three-time all-Pac 12 first-team selection.
Keys to the Match:
The Driussi Dilemma
Sebastian Driussi is expected to miss his second straight game with a hamstring injury. Last weekend Austin started with an Alex Ring-Daniel Perreira-Owen Wolff midfield that managed to not be able to retain possession of the ball nor able to get the ball back in the first half. The team noticeably looked better when Dani dropped deeper and Jhojan Valencia came on in the second half. Will we see a more defensive approach against Seattle with a second central midfielder dropping deep or will Wolff try the same line up in hopes it will be more effective this time out?
Starters versus Subs
Last weekend Austin’s team was brought to life when Jadier Obrian and Diego Rubio were brought in for Ethan Finlay and Gyasi Zardes. Obrian provided the kind of pace and verticality down the right side that can really stretch a defense back and wide, allowing more space for Austin’s advanced midfielders to operate. Rubio also provided an option up the field for those players to play off of as he was able to hold the ball up against Minnesota’s defenders, something Zardes was ineffective at in the first half.
Road Woes
Austin FC is 1-5-2 all-time away against the Cascadia teams (Portland, Seattle, Vancouver) and 9-27-5 all-time against Western Conference teams.
Written By: Scott Specht
