Austin FC forward Moussa Djitté makes first MLS start; Forward McKinze Gaines makes Austin FC and MLS debut
Photos by Suzanne Cordeiro
Austin, TEXAS (September 18, 2021) – Saturday night’s contest between Austin FC and the San Jose Earthquakes was quite different from the scoreless draw in their first meeting of the season on June 19, as the Earthquakes outlasted Austin 4-3 in a thrilling game at Q2 Stadium.
ATXFC got off to a dream start in the sixth minute as a pair of summer signings created the game’s opening goal. Moussa Djitté, who made his first MLS start on the night, directed a powerful header on frame, forcing a save from San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski. Sebastián Driussi reacted
The early lead wouldn’t last long though. The Earthquakes grabbed an equalizer in the 17th minute, when Marcos López met Benjamin Kikanovic’s corner kick with a header that found its way into the net.
Austin’s attack restored the lead with two (2) more goals before halftime. In the 35th minute, a deft combination play between Daniel Pereira and Alex Ring saw the latter break in behind San Jose’s backline. The captain slid a low pass across the six-yard area, and Jon Gallagher popped up at the far post to finish the move.
Ring then scored one (1) of his own in spectacular fashion, hitting a pinpoint strike from outside the box that arrowed into the bottom corner to give ATXFC a two-goal lead in the 45th minute.
Things changed on the other side of the break, as the Earthquakes netted twice in quick succession to tie things up once again. Cristian Espinoza scored in the 49th minute to halve the deficit, and Javier López completed the comeback from the spot nine (9) minutes later after VAR awarded the visitors a controversial penalty kick.
Fortunes turned in the Earthquakes’ favor again when López scored his second of the night in the 63rd minute, and Ring was sent off moments later. A 10-man Austin pushed in search of the game-tying goal, and nearly found one (1) on a couple of occasions. But ultimately, the late equalizer never arrived, and San Jose took home all three (3) points on the night.
PHOTO GALLERY
Goal-Scoring Summary
ATX (1-0) – Sebastián Driussi (unassisted) 6’
SJE (1-1) – Marcos López (assisted by Carlos Fierro) 17’
ATX (2-1) – Jon Gallagher (assisted by Alex Ring, Daniel Pereira) 35’
ATX (3-1) – Alex Ring (assisted by Sebastián Driussi) 45’
SJE (3-2) – Cristian Espinoza (assisted by Benjamin Kikanovic) 49’
SJE (3-3) – Javier López (penalty) 58’
SJE (3-4) – Javier López (unassisted) 63’
Misconduct Summary
ATX – Daniel Pereira (caution) 4’
ATX – Alex Ring (caution) 58’
ATX – Brad Stuver (caution) 60’
SJE – Cristian Espinoza (caution) 60’
ATX – Alex Ring (ejection) 65’
ATX – Julio Cascante (caution) 69’
SJE – Paul Marie (caution) 72’
SJE – Eric Remedi (caution) 90’+3’
SJE – Andrés Ríos (caution) 90’+6’
Media Assets
Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff digital press conference
Austin FC Forward Moussa Djitté digital press conference
Boxscore
Austin FC vs San Jose Earthquakes | Q2 Stadium (Austin, TX) | September 18, 2021
Lineups
Austin FC: Brad Stuver, Nick Lima, Julio Cascante (McKinze Gaines 90’+3’), Jhohan Romaña, Hector Jimenez, Daniel Pereira (Sebastian Berhalter 45’), Alex Ring ©, Tomás Pochettino (Diego Fagundez 61’), Sebastián Driussi, Jon Gallagher (Rodney Redes 61’), Moussa Djitté (Cecilio Domínguez 45’)
Substitutes not used: Freddy Kleemann, Žan Kolmanič, Andrew Tarbell, Jared Stroud
Head Coach: Josh Wolff
TOTAL SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 10; FOULS: 17; OFFSIDE: 0; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 4
San Jose Earthquakes: James Marcinkowski, Tanner Beason, Marcos López, Nathan (Oswaldo Alanís 86’), Tommy Thompson (Paul Marie 68’), Cristian Espinoza (Jack Skahan 76’), Eric Remedi, Carlos Fierro (Cade Cowell 45’), Javier López (Andrés Ríos 85’), Jackson Yueill ©, Benjamin Kikanovic
Substitutes not used: Chris Wondolowski, Jacob Akanyirige, Daniel Vega, Luciano Abecasis
Head Coach: Omar Zarif
TOTAL SHOTS: 15; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 8; SAVES: 7