March 20, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Seattle Sounders FC News Release
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Sounders FC (1-2-1, 4 points) drew 1-1 with Austin FC (2-1-1, 7 points) on Sunday afternoon at Q2 Stadium. Will Bruin scored the lone goal for the visitors, as the Rave Green concluded a two-match road trip that began with Thursday’s second leg of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Quarterfinals at Club León.
Bruin opened the scoring in the 43rd minute when João Paulo found Cristian Roldan in space on the right flank, with Roldan then sending in a low cross to Bruin for the tap-in from point-blank range. The helper was good for Roldan’s sixth assist of year across all competitions.
Austin leveled the score in the 70th minute courtesy of Diego Fagúndez, after a ball was played into the area and deflected to his foot. Fagúndez was able to contort his body to convert the equalizer for the home side.
Seattle now heads into the international break before taking on Minnesota United FC in two weeks on Saturday, April 2 at Allianz Field (5:00 p.m. PT / FOX 13, Prime Video, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH NOTES
Sounders FC is now 1-2-1 on the season and 3-2-3 across all competitions in 2022.
Sunday marked Seattle’s third all-time meeting against Austin FC after going 1-0-1 against the 2021 expansion side last year.
Will Bruin recorded his first start and scored his first goal of the 2022 campaign on Sunday. His 75 career strikes rank ninth among all MLS active players.
Cristian Roldan’s assist on Bruin’s goal gives the midfielder a team-leading six helpers across all competitions this year (two in MLS play).
João Paulo recorded his first assist of 2022 on Bruin’s goal. The Brazilian led the club with 11 helpers in 2021.
Stef Cleveland made his first start of 2022, replacing Stefan Frei (quad tendinitis) for today’s match and amassing seven saves over the course of the game. The 27-year-old started 15 regular-season appearances in 2021 while Frei was injured, allowing 17 goals and recording three shutouts.
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation to start today’s match, with four personnel changes from Thursday’s contest at Club León: Stefan Cleveland, Obed Vargas, Léo Chú and Will Bruin replaced Stefan Frei, Kelyn Rowe, Jordan Morris and Fredy Montero.
Due to injuries to Frei and Andrew Thomas, Tacoma Defiance goalkeeper Wallis Lapsley was on the bench today via a Short Term Agreement, with Sounders FC qualifying for Extreme Hardship.
Josh Atencio made his first appearance of the 2022 season after missing the first seven matches due to injury. The 20-year-old midfielder started 18 of his 24 appearances last season, tallying two assists.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Austin FC 1
Sunday, March 20, 2022
Venue: Q2 Stadium
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Assistants: CJ Morgante, Jeffrey Greeson
Fourth Official: Armando Villarreal
VAR: Kevin Stott
Attendance: 20,738
Weather: 78 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Will Bruin (Cristian Roldan, João Paulo) 43′
ATX – Diego Fagúndez 70′
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 58′
SEA – Alex Roldan (caution) 77′
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Cleveland; Alex Roldan, Jackson Ragen, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou (Abdoulaye Cissoko 64′); João Paulo, Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan (Josh Atencio 88′), Albert Rusnák (Kelyn Rowe 64′), Léo Chú (Jordan Morris 56′); Will Bruin (Fredy Montero 56′)
Substitutes not used: Will Lapsley, Sam Adeniran, Reed Baker-Whiting, Danny Leyva
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 6
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 7
Austin FC – Brad Stuver; Ruben Gabrielsen, Julio Cascante, Zan Kolmanic (Hector Jiménez 82′), Nick Lima (Jon Gallagher 82′); Dani Pereira (Felipe 82′), Sebastian Driussi, Alex Ring; Moussa Djitté (Maxi Urruti 57′), Cecilio Domínguez, Ethan Finlay (Diego Fagúndez 57′)
Substitutes not used: Jhojan Valencia, Danny Hoesen, Kipp Keller, Andrew Tarbell
Total shots: 21
Shots on goal: 8
Fouls: 12
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 9
Saves: 3
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