Club Captain and Midfielder Alex Ring scores for Austin FC; Goalkeeper Brad Stuver maintains league-lead in saves
Photos by Tyler Schmitt
Austin, TEXAS (August 18, 2021) – In a battle between two (2) Western Conference foes, the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps FC defeated Austin FC 2-1 at Q2 Stadium on Wednesday night. Alex Ring scored Austin’s lone goal, while Jake Nerwinski and Brian White tallied for Vancouver.
Austin was able to create a chance to start the half, including one off a high press that resulted in a Cecilio Domínguez shot from outside the box. Domínguez would leave the match in the 30th minute with Jon Gallagher taking the field in his place.
In the 37th minute, Austin’s captain stepped up and scored the match opener. Sebastián Driussi whipped in an out-swinging corner and Ring’s snapped header found its way to the far post to give ATXFC the lead.
White nearly scored an equalizer for Vancouver eight (8) minutes later but Austin was able to take a 1-0 lead into halftime. Vancouver managed to find a goal of its own off a corner kick in the 52nd minute. Brad Stuver saved White’s initial header but Nerwinski finished the rebound.
Austin pushed to grab the lead again with Jon Gallagher and Tomás Pochettino each having quality chances to score ATXFC’s second. With the Verde & Black unable to add to its tally, Vancouver took advantage and scored its second in the 74th minute.
The Whitecaps hit Austin on a counter with Deiber Caicedo feeding Ryan Gauld a pass that took to him the endline and the Scotsman played a pass across the face of the goal that White finished into an empty net.
Gallagher had a significant chance to equalize in the 86th minute but his header off a Nick Lima cross stayed above the crossbar.
PHOTO GALLERY
Goal-Scoring Summary
ATX (1-0) – Alex Ring 32’ (assisted by Sebastián Driussi)
VAN (1-1) – Jake Nerwinski 52’ (unassisted)
VAN (1-2) – Brian White 74’ (assisted by Ryan Gauld, Déiber Caicedo)
Misconduct Summary
ATX – Hector Jimenez (caution) 55’
VAN – Cristian Dájome (caution) 62’
ATX – Matt Besler (caution) 63’
Lineups
Austin FC: Brad Stuver, Matt Besler, Jhohan Romaña (Julio Cascante 89’), Nick Lima, Hector Jimenez (Žan Kolmanič 75’), Tomás Pochettino (Rodney Redes 89’), Alex Ring ©, Cecilio Domínguez (Jon Gallagher 30’), Daniel Pereira, Diego Fagundez (Jared Stroud 75’), Sebastián Driussi Substitutes not used: Freddy Kleemann, Andrew Tarbell, Aedan Stanley, Sebastian BerhalterHead Coach: Josh Wolff
TOTAL SHOTS: 10; SHOTS ON GOAL: 2; FOULS: 15; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 6
Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Maxime Crépeau, Javain Brown, Andy Rose (Florian Jungwirth 89’), Jake Nerwinski, Ranko Veselinovic, Russell Teibert © (Michael Baldisimo 81’), Janio Bikel, Leonard Owusu (Ryan Gauld 45’), Brian White (Tosaint Ricketts 78’), Déiber Caicedo, Cristian Dájome Substitutes not used: Ryan Raposo, Kamron Habibullah, Bruno Gaspar, Thomas Hasal, Patrick Metcalfe Head Coach: Marc Dos Santos
TOTAL SHOTS: 18; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 11; OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 10; SAVES: 1
Match Information
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistant Referee 1: Adam Garner
Assistant Referee 2: Ian McKay
4th Official: Tori Penso
Weather: Partly cloudy, 83 degrees
About Austin FC
Austin FC joined Major League Soccer (MLS) as the 27th club in January 2019. Austin FC officially began competing in MLS in April 2021 and played its first match at home on June 19, 2021 in the new, 100% privately financed, $260 million, state-of-the-art Q2 Stadium in Austin.
Austin FC operates the Austin FC Academy, the fully funded developmental academy representing the highest level of competition for elite youth soccer players in Central Texas, while serving as the exclusive developmental pathway to MLS for the region’s most talented young players.
