AUSTIN, Texas — Austin FC kicks off its ninth match of the 2021 Major League Soccer (MLS) season on Saturday, June 19, against the San Jose Earthquakes.
Final: Austin FC 0, San Jose 0
It may not be the result Austinites hoped for, but it's the one they got. A night that started with drums banged by Minister of Culture Matthew McConaughey while leading the "VERDE! LISTOS!" chants prior to kickoff, led to a tightly-contested match to the very last moment.
"To be honest, it was amazing. I remember when I stepped out right before the game started, I got the chills. It was something special, I know [the fans] have been working so hard for it," Austin FC midfielder Diego Fagundez said. "I know the whole team was ready for it and it's kind of sad that we're leaving with a tie because we pushed so hard, they were singing so hard, and we wanted to give them more. But it's like we said, this is just the beginning. We're going to make this a fortress, we're going to make this a place where no wants to play."
"It was electric tonight. It was amazing," Austin FC forward Jon Gallagher said. "From every chance, every little pass, every good moment, you could feel them. It was really hot out there and a lot of guys were struggling with cramps and at those times, that's when [the supporters] really pick you up. Most of the game they were banging the drum, they were singing and I'm like, 'I don't know how these guys are still going, they must just as tired as myself.'"
Austin FC scored one point in the MLS standings after recording a 0-0 draw against San Jose. Brad Stuver recorded his second straight game of nine saves, which is a career high.
Austin FC threatened to score a handful of times in the match, but San Jose seemed to have better looks on goal. Austin FC finished with more total shots (19 to 13), but less on frame (6 to 9).
With the draw, Austin FC improves to nine points through nine matches. Austin FC will go back on the road against Minnesota United before hosting four straight home games. Austin FC beat Minnesota United, 1-0, on the road on May 1, which is one of the club's two wins this season.
"We had a difficult game, a difficult opponent. I give a lot of credit to San Jose, they make it difficult," Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff said. "It's a unique way of playing, very physical, very combative, 1v1 all over the field. We found our moments and weren't able to capture a goal. A little bit more quality, a little bit better decision-making in the final third and I think the result's there."
STATS
- Possession: Austin FC 49%, San Jose 51%
- Shots (on goal): Austin FC 19(6), San Jose 13(9)
- Fouls: Austin FC 15, San Jose 16
- Yellow Cards: Austin FC 1, San Jose 2
- Red Cards: Austin FC 0, San Jose 0
- Offsides: Austin FC 1, San Jose 1
- Corner Kicks: Austin FC 9, San Jose 7
- Saves: Austin FC 9, San Jose 6
Second half
90' + 5: Match ends. Austin FC ties 0-0.
90' + 3: Sebastian Berhalter replaces Diego Fagundez.
90' + 3: Cristian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes) right-footed shot from long range on the right is too high.
90' + 2: Tomás Pochettino (Austin FC) right-footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the top center of the goal.
90' + 1: Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes) left footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the center of the goal.
90': Oswaldo Alanís (San Jose Earthquakes) header from the center of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
90': San Jose corner: Cleared by Austin FC.
90': Oswaldo Alanís (San Jose Earthquakes) header from very close range is saved in the bottom right corner.
89': Cristian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes) left-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
86': Oswaldo Alanís (San Jose Earthquakes) header from very close range is saved in the bottom left corner.
85': Austin FC sub: Kekuta Manneh replaces Jon Gallagher.
83': San Jose corner: Cleared by Austin FC.
83': Carlos Fierro (San Jose Earthquakes) right-footed shot from the center of the box is saved.
81': Tomás Pochettino (Austin FC) right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
78': Manny Perez (Austin FC) left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
76': San Jose sub: Carlos Fierro replaces Paul Marie.
76': Play resumes.
73': HYDRATION BREAK
71': Cecilio Domínguez (Austin FC) left-footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
70': Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes) right-footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
70': Austin FC sub: Manny Perez replaces Jared Stroud.
67': Oswaldo Alanís (San Jose Earthquakes) header from the center of the box is saved in the top center of the goal.
67': San Jose sub: Cade Cowell replaces Javier López. Shea Salinas replaces Andrés Ríos.
66': San Jose corner: Cleared by Austin FC.
66': Jon Gallagher (Austin FC) header from the center of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
63': Austin FC corner: Cleared by San Jose.
63': Alexander Ring (Austin FC) left-footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
59': Jared Stroud (Austin FC) left-footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left.
59': San Jose corner: Ball played into the box saved by Brad Stuver.
57': Tomás Pochettino tries a through ball, but Jared Stroud is caught offside.
54': Austin FC corner: Ball played into the box cleared out to the foot of Jared Stroud. Stroud right-footed shot from outside of the box sails high.
50': Austin FC corner: Cleared by San Jose.
50': Tomás Pochettino (Austin FC) right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
49': Austin FC corner: Cleared by San Jose.
45': Second half kicks off.
Halftime: Austin FC 0, San Jose 0
We're still deadlocked at 0-0 after the first 45 minutes. Austin FC came out of the gate hot in their home opener with two early chances in the first 10 minutes from captain Alex Ring and Diego Fagundez.
Austin FC did have a scare in the 36th minute when a Cristian Espinoza shot hit the right post from close range. San Jose had another solid opportunity from Chris Wondolowski in the 41st minute.
All told, Austin FC is holding strong against the Earthquakes, a club that made the MLS playoffs in 2020.
STATS
- Possession: Austin FC 49%, San Jose 51%
- Shots (on goal): Austin FC 8(2), San Jose 5(2)
- Fouls: Austin FC 9, San Jose 11
- Yellow Cards: Austin FC 1, San Jose 2
- Red Cards: Austin FC 0, San Jose 0
- Offsides: Austin FC 0, San Jose 0
- Corner Kicks: Austin FC 6, San Jose 2
- Saves: Austin FC 2, San Jose 2
First half
Austin FC 0 San Jose 0
44': Jared Stroud (Austin FC) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
44': Alexander Ring (Austin FC) left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
42': Austin FC corner: Cleared by San Jose.
41': Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) left-footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
39': San Jose corner: Cleared by Austin FC.
36': Cristian Espinoza (San Jose Earthquakes) hits the right post with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box.
35': Nick Lima (Austin FC) left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
33': Javier López (San Jose Earthquakes) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
32': Play resumes.
28': HYDRATION BREAK
27': Austin FC corner: Cleared by San Jose.
26': Nick Lima (Austin FC) right-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal.
26': Cecilio Domínguez (Austin FC) right-footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is blocked.
25': Austin FC free kick: Cecilio Dominguez plays a ball into the box from the left wing, which was blocked.
24': San Jose yellow card: Eric Remedi (San Jose Earthquakes) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
24': Paul Marie (San Jose Earthquakes) right-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal.
20': Austin FC corner: Cleared by San Jose.
20': Austin FC corner: Cleared by San Jose.
19': Cecilio Domínguez (Austin FC) right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
14': San Jose yellow card: Florian Jungwirth (San Jose Earthquakes) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
12': Javier López (San Jose Earthquakes) left-footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
10': Austin FC corner: Cleared by San Jose.
10': Diego Fagundez (Austin FC) header from the center of the box is saved in the top left corner.
1': Alexander Ring (Austin FC) right-footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
1': Game is kicked off.
Pregame
Austin FC Minister of Culture Matthew McConaughey leads the "VERDE! LISTOS!" chant:
Austin FC announced its starting XI:
KVUE's Brittany Flowers matched with Austin FC supporters groups to Q2 Stadium!
The supporters groups lined outside of Q2 Stadium, chanting for the Verde.
Match timeline
The game will kick off at 8 p.m. CST on Saturday, June 19, at Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas.
- 3 p.m.: Parking Lots and H-E-B Plaza Open
- 4 p.m.: Beer Hall Opens
- 4:15 p.m.: Tomas & the FCs in Live Oak Park
- 5 p.m.: Gates and The Verde Store Open
- 6:20 p.m.: Player Bus Arrival on Calle Norte
- 7 p.m.: Supporters Arrival in Supporters Section
- 7:10 p.m.: Pre-game Programming Begins
- 7:52 p.m.: Black National Anthem Performed by Jackie Venson
- 8 p.m.: Kickoff
How to watch
- ESPN+
- @TUDNUSA (Twitter)
- Univision/Unimas/TUDN (Spanish)
How to listen
- ALT 97.5 FM (radio)
- Spanish: TUDN Radio Austin (104.3-HD2, KLQB)
Where to watch: Austin FC Pub Club
Official watch party
Pluckers will host the official watch party for Austin FC's first home match. No ticket or RSVP is required, but early arrival is encouraged as capacity and parking is limited.
- Location: 6406 N. Interstate 35 Frontage Rd.
- Suite 2949, Austin, Texas
Preview
After eight road games to begin the inaugural MLS season for Austin FC, the club finally gets the opportunity to play in front of its fans at Q2 Stadium. The first Austin FC home match comes three days after the United States women's national team defeated Nigeria, 2-0, in the first-ever match played in Q2 Stadium history.
Austin FC enters the match off back-to-back draws against the top two teams in the Western Conference: Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City. Cecilio Dominguez scored his third goal of the season in the first half against Sporting KC, which leads the team. Defensively, goalkeeper Brad Stuver stood tall in goal, making a number of highlight-reel saves. Stuver officially finished with a career-high nine saves on the day.
San Jose enters the match on a four-game losing streak, among them losses to both Seattle and Sporting KC. Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff told KVUE on the VerdeVUE Pod, however, that the Earthquakes present a challenge in that they play man-for-man and "it looks awkward from the outside, but it becomes very challenging to navigate." You can listen to the full conversation on KVUE's YouTube page.
The national anthem will be sang by Aaron Stephens, an Austin-based singer-songwriter and guitarist.
In celebration of Juneteenth, American singer-songwriter and guitarist Jackie Venson of Austin, Texas will perform the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Austin muralist and activist, Chris Rogers, will unveil his mural Whispers of the Heart. KVUE spoke with Rogers while he worked on the art piece.
For the latest Austin FC news, visit kvue.com/austinfc. And to get the latest Austin FC news straight to your phone, text "SOCCER" to 512-459-9442.
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