Austin FC Handles SKC, Wins Third Straight at Q2 Stadium

Gyasi Zardes celebrates scoring a goal with Sebastián Driussi, before Driussi exited the match with an apparent injury (credit: Austin FC)

Austin FC has found itself a blueprint that works, and it’s led to a record-setting stretch for the club.

The Verde and Black topped Sporting Kansas City, 2-1, Saturday night at Q2 Stadium thanks to goals by Gyasi Zardes and Ethan Finlay. The victory secured the first three-game home winning streak in club history, and Zardes and Finlay have scored in them all.

This time around, they did so less than two minutes apart. The first came in the 17th minute off a cross from Austin FC’s 2023 All-Star, Jon Gallagher, who picked out Zardes unmarked in front of the Kansas City net. The ATX striker saw his initial header saved by keeper Kendall McIntosh, but Zardes quickly pounced on the rebound to power it into the net for his sixth goal in his last 10 MLS games.

Then, in the 19th minute, Diego Fagúndez pulled off a spectacular outside-of-the-foot pass over several Kansas City defenders, ultimately finding its way to Finlay. The veteran didn’t make perfect contact on his shot but placed it perfectly into the bottom corner to sneak past McIntosh for a 2-0 ATX lead.

Outside of the foot perfection from @DiegolFagundez to @EthanFinlay13 for the finish! 👏 pic.twitter.com/6j89I3E2Iy

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) July 16, 2023

KC pulled one goal back before the halftime break by way of Dany Rosero off a corner kick, but failed to seriously challenge Brad Stuver’s net in the second half as ATX cruised to the 2-1 victory. The performance had head coach Josh Wolff waxing lyrical post-match.

“The spoils go to the group because that’s what this group is about,” Wolff said. “They find ways to grind and fight and it was awesome. The human spirit was awesome to watch tonight.”

It came at a cost though, as both Dani Pereira and Sebastián Driussi exited the match with injury in the first half. Pereira left with an apparent shoulder sprain, while Wolff said Driussi’s removal was mostly precautionary.

The three points puts Austin FC back into fifth place in the Western Conference as MLS enters a more than one-month hiatus for the inaugural Leagues Cup competition, which ATXFC opens on Friday against Liga MX club Mazatlán at Q2 Stadium.

For more Austin FC news and analysis, visit The Austin Chronicle's Austin FC hub. Follow “The Verde Report” columnist Eric Goodman on Twitter: @goodman.