Tomás Pochettino and Cecilio Domínguez score goals in historic first MLS match against Texas foes Houston
Austin, TEXAS (August 4, 2021) – Tomás Pochettino scored his first two (2) goals for Austin FC and Cecilio Domínguez provided his team-leading fourth to lead Austin FC back into the win column with a 3-2 victory over Houston Dynamo FC tonight.
ATXFC attacked with purpose from the opening kick-off. In the seventh minute, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter won the ball in the final third and crossed the ball to Julio Cascante, who was up after a set piece. The center back squared it for Pochettino, whose shot bounced off the goal frame, off Houston defender Zarek Valentin and into the back of the net.
In the 20th minute, Dynamo midfielder Darwin Cerén lashed out and landed an elbow to Berhalter’s head. Cerén was immediately shown a red card, putting Austin FC up a man for the remainder of the match.
Houston capitalized on a mistake in the back from Austin in the 27th minute and pulled level. Brad Stuver made an initial save on Corey Baird, but Canada international Tyler Pasher polished off the rebound to make it 1-1.
The Verde & Black regained the lead in first-half stoppage time. Žan Kolmanič played a cross that found the foot of Diego Fagundez. His shot was saved by Houston goalkeeper Marko Maric, but Pochettino converted the rebound from 8 yards out for his second goal of the match.
After controlling the ball at the start of the second half, Domínguez added to Austin’s lead in the 56th minute. Defender Hector Jiménez played Fagundez through to the end line and he clipped a cross to the far post that Domínguez was able to power into the back of the net with his head.
Austin dominated the ball and the chances over the final 30 minutes, taking advantage of its numerical superiority. However, Fafà Picault was able to get one goal back in the 86th minute after a misplay by Stuver.
PHOTO GALLERY
Goal-Scoring Summary
ATX (1-0) – Tomás Pochettino 7’ (assisted by Julio Cascante)
HOU (1-1) – Tyler Pasher 27’ (unassisted)
ATX (2-1) – Tomás Pochettino 45’ (unassisted)
ATX (3-1) – Cecilio Domínguez 56’ (assisted by Diego Fagundez, Hector Jimenez)
HOU (3-2) – Fafà Picault 86’ (unassisted)
Misconduct Summary
HOU – Darwin Cerén (ejection) 20’
HOU – Griffin Dorsey (caution) 79’
ATX – Jared Stroud (caution) 83’
Lineups
Austin FC:Brad Stuver, Julio Cascante (Jhohan Romaña 64’), Matt Besler, Žan Kolmanič, Hector Jimenez (Nick Lima 64’), Diego Fagundez (Rodney Redes 77’), Cecilio Domínguez (Jared Stroud 71’), Sebastian Berhalter, Alex Ring (c) (Daniel Pereira 64’), Jon Gallagher, Tomás Pochettino Substitutes not used: Kekuta Manneh, Aedan Stanley, Andrew Tarbell, Manny Perez Head Coach: Josh Wolff
TOTAL SHOTS: 14; SHOTS ON GOAL: 5; FOULS: 10; OFFSIDE: 2; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1
Houston Dynamo FC: Marko Maric, Zarek Valentin, Tim Parker (c), Teenage Hadebe, Sam Junqua (Adam Lundkvist 65’), Darwin Cerén, Matías Vera (Boniek García 65’), Joe Corona (Mateo Bajamich 90’), Fafà Picault, Corey Baird (Memo Rodríguez 65’), Tyler Pasher (Griffin Dorsey 32’) Substitutes not used: Derrick Jones, Michael Nelson, Alejandro Fuenmayor, Maynor Figueroa Head Coach: Tab Ramos
TOTAL SHOTS: 9; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 12; OFFSIDE: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2
Match Information
Referee: Joe Dickerson
Assistant Referee 1: Eric Weisbrod
Assistant Referee 2: Gjovalin Bori
4th Official: Elton Garcia
Weather: Clear, 84 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.