Was Sounder’s 2-1 Win over Austin FC a turning point in the season?

The Seattle Sounders snapped a six-game winless streak with a dramatic  2-1  win over Austin FC. After a scoreless first half, Jordan Morris gave the Rave Green a 1-0 lead minutes into the second half with a tap-in goal from an exquisite free kick by Nicolas Lodeiro. The tap-in was Morris’s 10th  goal of the season and broke a  long scoring drought for the former MSL Golden Boot leader.  Lodeiro’s assist was his tenth of the season which is a team high.

STILL STRUGGLING WITH SET PIECES

After close chances by both sides, Austin FC took advantage of the Sounder’s season-long inability to defend a set piece.  Austin FC leveled the game in the 72nd minute when Sebastian Driussi slotted in a pass from  Gyasi Zardes.

CONTINUED FIGHT

In the tie with the Minnesota Lunes three days earlier the Sounders gave up a late goal and never found the will and energy to get the game-winner. Against  Austin FC that is exactly what the Sounders found.  The Sounders threw caution to the wind and were rewarded for their bravery in the 90th minute. Albert Rusnak slammed home the game-winner with a half-volley just inside the  Austin FC goal area.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

The Sounders have been struggling all season to find some consistency on the field. Head coach Brian Schmetzer has rotated lineups, benched star players, and changed formations. Yes, there have been injuries but the Sounders struggles are self-inflicted.

 When the Sounders play unselfish soccer, running without the ball,  playing air-tight defense, and moving the ball decisively upfield in transition they can play and beat any team. When players are slow to react in transition, switching on set pieces and overthinking each and every play you get a six-game winless streak. The question is which Sounders team will show up against the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

MATCH NOTES

• The result keeps Seattle in third place in the Western Conference with 40 points, tied with second-place LAFC on points, but trailing the Southern California side via goal difference. Following midweek results across the league tonight, Seattle now sits two points above Houston at the time of writing.

• Sounders FC is now 3-1-2 all-time against Austin FC since the Texas side joined MLS in 2021, including an unbeaten 2-0-1 road mark. With tonight’s result, Seattle and Austin split their 2023 season series, each taking a win on the road. Austin defeated the Rave Green 2-1 on May 17 at Lumen Field.

• The win was Seattle’s first in six league matches, dating back to a 3-2 road victory at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on July 8, a match that was also clinched on a last-minute game-winning goal.

• Jordan Morris scored his team-leading 10^th goal of the season to give Seattle the lead early in the second half. The Mercer Island native now has 63 career goals for Sounders FC across all competitions, third in club history.

• Nico Lodeiro recorded an assist for the second-consecutive match, giving him a team-leading 10 on the season. It marked the 80^th career assist in MLS regular-season action since joining the league in 2016, as well as his 94^th across all competitions (both club records).

• Lodeiro becomes just the fifth player in league history to register six or more 10-assist seasons. Sounders FC Assistant Coach Preki is the league’s all-time leader with eight seasons with at least 10 assists.

• Rusnák’s goal was good for his third strike of the year, with the midfielder also scoring against Minnesota on April 22 and Houston on July 1, both of which were game-winners.

• Head Coach Brian Schmetzer made five changes to his starting XI from Sunday’s match at Minnesota: Reed Baker-Whiting, Xavier Arreaga, Josh Atencio, Ethan Dobbelaere and Léo Chú replaced Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Obed Vargas, Albert Rusnák and Raúl Ruidíaz.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Austin FC 1

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Venue: Q2 Stadium

Referee: Drew Fischer

Assistants: Cory Richardson, Walt Heatherly

Fourth Official: Matthew Corrigan

VAR: Daniel Radford

Attendance: 20,738

Weather: 95 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Jordan Morris (Nico Lodeiro) 48’

ATX – Sebastian Driussi (Gyasi Zardes) 72’

SEA – Albert Rusnák 90’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 37’

ATX – Gyasi Zardes (caution) 46’

ATX – Jhojan Valencia (caution) 53’

SEA – Nouhou (caution) 87’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Reed Baker-Whiting, Jackson Ragen, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou; João Paulo (Albert Rusnák 46’), Josh Atencio, Ethan Dobbelaere (Obed Vargas 79’), Nico Lodeiro, Léo Chú (Yeimar 84’); Jordan Morris (Héber 64’)

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Alex Roldan, Paul Rothrock, Fredy Montero, Raúl Ruidíaz

Total shots: 11

Shots on goal: 3

Fouls: 13

Offside: 0

Corner-Kicks: 6

Saves: 5

Austin FC – Brad Stuver; Matt Hedges (Leo Väisänen 65’), Jon Gallagher, Julio Cascante, Nick Lima; Jhojan Valencia (Alex Ring 74’), Sebastian Driussi, Owen Wolff; Emiliano Rigoni (Ethan Finlay 83’), Gyasi Zardes (Will Bruin 74’), Memo Rodríguez (Maxi Urruti 83’)

Substitutes not used: Matt Bersano, Hector Jimenez, CJ Fodrey, Adam Lundkvist

Total shots: 13

Shots on goal: 6

Fouls: 8

Offside: 3

Corner-kicks: 3

Saves: 1

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