August 22, 2021 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Austin FC News Release
Austin, TEXAS – On Saturday night at Q2 Stadium, Josh Wolff’s squad got another win against the Timbers on its home pitch, winning 3-1 thanks to three (3) first-half goals. Cecilio Domínguez, Diego Fagundez and Sebastián Driussi all scored to lead Austin to its fifth win this season.
Domínguez got it going early for Austin after several attacks forward by the Verde & Black in the opening minutes. The forward was in open space 1v1 with Timbers defender Jose Carlos Van Rankin in the seventh minute and managed to beat the right back, forcing a foul inside the box. It was not called initially by referee Guido Gonzales Jr., but the penalty was eventually given after Video Assisted Review.
The Paraguayan coolly finished the penalty into the bottom right corner for his fifth goal of the season as ATXFC took a lead in the 11th minute. He played a part in Austin’s second goal just three minutes later.
After receiving the ball from Diego Fagundez, Domínguez played right back Nick Lima forward into open space. The right back hit a perfect cross that found the head of a streaking Fagundez and the midfielder left no doubt, finishing in the top corner.
Austin’s third goal came in the 29th minute thanks to some beautiful play in the final third. Sebastián Driussi found a pocket in between Portland’s lines and fed Alex Ring the ball at the top of the box after a dummy from Domínguez. Ring played a wide open Jon Gallagher, but the Irishman’s shot was cleared off the line. Luckily, Fagundez picked up the rebound on the endline and played it back to Driussi, who finished off the play he started to score his first with Austin FC.
Austin continued the onslaught for the rest of the half but took the 3-0 lead into halftime. Both teams came out firing to start the second half, but Portland got one goal back in the 55th minute after winning the ball in Austin’s half. Dairon Asprilla fired a shot from outside the box that found its way into the back of the net.
Portland continued to push to get back in the match, but Brad Stuver came up big — including a beautiful diving save low to his left to deny Yimmi Chara in the 60th minute. Afterwards, with the help of substitute Jhohan Romaña, Austin was able to lock down the Timbers attack and cruise to a 3-1 win.
Goal-Scoring Summary
ATX (1-0) – Cecilio Domínguez 11′ (penalty kick)
ATX (2-0) – Diego Fagundez 14′ (assisted by Nick Lima)
ATX (3-0) – Sebastián Driussi 29′ (assisted by Diego Fagundez)
POR (3-1) – Dairon Asprilla 55′ (assisted by Diego Chara)
Misconduct Summary
POR – Dario Zuparic (caution) 64′
ATX – Tomás Pochettino (caution) 83′
Media Assets
Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff digital press conference
Austin FC Midfielder Diego Fagundez digital press conference
Boxscore
Austin FC vs Portland Timbers | Q2 Stadium (Austin, TX) | August 21, 2021
Lineups
Austin FC: Brad Stuver, Nick Lima, Matt Besler, Å1/2an Kolmanič (Hector Jimenez 74′), Julio Cascante, Jon Gallagher, Alex Ring © (Sebastian Berhalter 84′), Cecilio Domínguez (Jared Stroud 85′), Diego Fagundez (Tomás Pochettino 75′), Daniel Pereira, Sebastián Driussi (Jhohan Romaña 62′)
Substitutes not used: Rodney Redes, Freddy Kleemann, Andrew Tarbell, Moussa Djitté
Head Coach: Josh Wolff
TOTAL SHOTS: 19; SHOTS ON GOAL: 9; FOULS: 4; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 5
Portland Timbers: Steve Clark, Dario Zuparic, Pablo Bonilla (Zac McGraw 87′), Bill Tuiloma, José Van Rankin (Larrys Mabiala 45′), George Fochive, Eryk Williamson (Sebastián Blanco 45′), Diego Chara ©, Dairon Asprilla (Jaroslaw Niezgoda 87′), Yimmi Chará (Diego Valeri 74′), Felipe Mora
Substitutes not used: Marvin Loría, Cristhian Paredes, Aljaz Ivacic, Blake Bodily
Head Coach: Giovanni Savarese
TOTAL SHOTS: 11; SHOTS ON GOAL: 6; FOULS: 8; OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 5
Match Information
Referee: Guido Gonzalez Jr.
Assistant Referee 1: Peter Manikowski
Assistant Referee 2: Diego Blas
4th Official: Brandon Stevis
Weather: Sunny, 92 degrees
Statistical source: MLSsoccer.com / Opta
Next Match
Austin FC will remain at Q2 Stadium for its ninth home match of the MLS 2021 regular season against the Portland Timbers on Saturday, August 18. The match will feature a regional TV broadcast in English language on KNVA (The CW Austin) and on radio on ALT 97.5 FM, as well as via the Austin FC and Q2 Stadium App and AustinFC.com. In Spanish language the match will be on UniMás Austin and TUDN Radio Austin (104.3-HD2, KLQB).
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