Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: FINAL, 0-0
For the second straight weekend at Q2 Stadium, Austin FC and their opponents drew 0-0, despite a lot of energy being put into scoring the stadium’s first goal in the MLS.
After the 0-0 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday night, Austin seemed anxious to score the winning goal in his new home by starting the first half tonight against the Columbus Crew with attacks from the right wing by Jared Stroud . The first of these resulted in a half volley by Diego Fagundez within the first 20 seconds of the game, which flew just past the Columbus goal.
A number of other chances came and went for Austin over the course of the 90 minutes, including a shot on goal by Tomás Pochettino in the first half that might have hit the post, but Eloy Room was not beaten in the Columbus goal tonight.
Austin FC haven’t scored a goal in 334 minutes plus stoppage time and The Oaks have been knocked out in six of their last seven games.
On the flip side, Brad Stuver scored yet another clean sheet for Austin, notably blocking a deflected shot from Columbus midfielder Lucas Zelarayán in the second half.
Austin is next for a home game against the Portland Timbers on Thursday evening.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: Scoring chance, 0-0 (74th minute)
Seconds after Daniel Pereira replaced Jon Gallagher in the Austin attack, Brad Stuver is back to prevent Gyasi Zardes from close range after a Columbus free-kick.
Zardes probably should have scored from such close range, but Stuver closed the corner on his shot and Zardes temporarily had problems sorting the ball between his feet.
Still goalless as we enter the final 15 minutes of today’s game.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: Substitution, 0-0 (70th minute)
It’s another change for the Columbus crew as Aboubacar Keita replaces Vito Wormgoor on defense.
Just a few minutes later, Brad Stuver is called in again for The Oaks and dives to the left to keep the game goalless with another save to defeat the ever-active Lucas Zelarayán.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: Substitution, 0-0 (60th minute)
The first change of game for Austin FC, Jared Stroud will be replaced by Kekuta Manneh as The Oaks try to rejuvenate their offensive attack.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: scoring chance, 0-0 (57th minute)
Brad Stuver is called back into action by Austin FC and dives deep to his left to defeat Lucas Zelarayán with a comfortable stop.
The Columbus Crew was the aggressor so far this half and changed the start of the game in the first half, whereby the guests had better scoring chances and more possession.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: scoring chance, 0-0 (47th minute)
Lucas Zelarayán’s right footed shot just outside of the Austin FC area and after a deflection by Austin defender Matt Besler, the ball is crammed from the top left corner of the net by Brad Stuver, who makes another impressive save goal for The Oaks.
It is Stuver’s best save of the evening and maintains the level of play in the first minutes of the second half.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: kick-off, 0-0 (46th minute)
The second half takes place at Q2 Stadium, with Austin FC and Columbus Crew each attempting to score the first goal in the MLS game on site.
The crew makes two substitutions at halftime, with Waylon replacing Francis Milton Valenzuela and Marlon Hairston replacing Liam Fraser.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: halftime, 0-0
Austin FC and their opponent fail to score for the third half of straight MLS action at Q2.
After the 0-0 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend, Austin FC started a little more aggressively against the Columbus Crew this evening, with many attacks flowing from the right wing through Jared Stroud.
But whether it was a half volley in 20 seconds from Diego Fagundez or multiple crosses and shots from Stroud, Austin FC couldn’t ask too many questions to Eloy Room in the crew gate.
Austin’s best chance came in stoppage time in the first half when midfielder Tomás Pochettino shot a low right-footed shot that went just wide of the net, which might hit the outside of the left post.
Across the pitch, Columbus grew into the game after weathering an initial flood from Austin in the first 15 minutes of play, and star striker Gyasi Zardes came up with some looks of their own to score for the guests.
Lots of action and lots of attack attempts from both sides but still no goals in Austin during the MLS game at Q2 Stadium.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: Yellow card, 0-0 (35th minute)
The first yellow card of the game is shown Columbus Crew defenseman Harrison Afful for a foul on Austin’s Jon Gallagher.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: scoring chance, 0-0 (29th minute)
Gyasi Zardes with another shot on goal for Columbus, this time with a narrow header at the goal of Brad Stuver, although it was closed unmarked after a throw-in in the box by Austin, an opportunity that the American international should have used much better.
The Oaks react quickly with an offensive vortex of their own as a low cross from Jared Stroud into the box is collected by a sprawling Eloy Room in the Columbus network.
Half an hour more goalless in the Q2 stadium when Stroud fired another shot past the goal before both teams were sent to the sidelines for a drink break.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: goal chance, 0-0 (19th minute)
Jared Stroud is once again involved in the offensive for Austin, this time firing his right foot over the net, which is saved by Eloy Room in the Columbus Crew gate.
The chance for Stroud was a fantastic one-on-one chance for Austin, but Stroud hesitated just a few seconds too long before shooting his shot away, and the hesitation resulted in a lower percentage chance of a goal for the winger and left Space allowed to close its angle in order to aim.
Still goalless in Austin but not due to a lack of attempts on both sides.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: Scoring chance, 0-0 (14th minute)
Columbus Crew striker Gyasi Zardes creates some space in the Austin FC penalty area after a Columbus throw-in, but his tame shot is easily processed by goalkeeper Brad Stuver in the Austin net.
Most of the first 15 minutes of the game offered good possession and scoring opportunities for the home team, but Columbus weathered Austin’s first offensive attacks well and the guests have settled in well and attacked more often.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: Scoring chance, 0-0 (1st minute)
Just 18 seconds into today’s game, midfielder Diego Fagundez lost a golden opportunity to put Austin FC in the lead and score the first MLS goal in the history of the Q2 Stadium.
A cross from right winger Jared Stroud to Fagundez knocked the midfielder out in the Columbus Crew penalty area, and Fagundez hit his half-volley with power and speed, but the ball flew past the left post.
It was almost an electric start in Austin, but the Oaks are still without a goal in their new home.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew: kick-off, (1st minute)
Austin FC’s starting line-up tonight is an encouraging return to the regular schedule after a tired team took the field Losing at Minnesota United on Wednesday night.
Defender Matt Besler and midfielder and captain Alex Ring are both returning to the starting line-up, while right-back Nick Lima is injured after sustaining a “significant” thigh injury earlier in the game in Minnesota, which head coach Josh Wolff described as a “significant” thigh injury .
Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, who started for Austin FC on Wednesday in Minnesota, is on loan from Columbus Crew and will not play tonight.
For the crew, the defending champion of the MLS Cup, offensive talents such as striker Gyasi Zardes and midfielder Lucas Zelarayán as well as midfielder Darlington Nagbe are in the starting line-up.
Columbus goes into today’s game with 14 points from nine games. Columbus only allowed six goals in 2021, bad news for an Austin FC team that was last in the Western Conference with six goals scored.
Austin are winless in their last seven games, dating back to May 1, and The Oaks have been knocked out five times in their last six games.
At the start of this game, Austin didn’t score a goal in 244 minutes plus stoppage time.
Aside from the factors on the playing field in today’s game is the Off-field storylines are also relevant.
Anthony Precourt, the majority owner of Austin FC, owned the crew before selling the club and starting an expansion franchise in Austin. Wolff spent several seasons in Columbus as an assistant coach on the staff of the current US national coach for men, Gregg Berhalter.
– Cameron Drummond
Austin FC starting XI
Austin FC: Brad Stuver, Matt Besler, Hector Jimenez, Julio Cascante, Žan Kolmanič, Tomas Pochettino, (C) Alex Ring, Diego Fagundez, Jared Stroud, Cecilio Domínguez, Jon Gallagher.
– Cameron Drummond
Match info for Austin FC vs. Columbus Crew
Austin FC v Columbus Crew, 7pm CDT, Q2 Stadium, Austin, TX
TV / radio: FS1 / ALT 97.5 (English) or 104.3-HD2 (Spanish)
About the series: This will be the first and only time Austin FC and Columbus Crew face each other in 2021. However, tensions are high, at least in Columbus. Austin FC majority owner Anthony Precourt was the former owner of the crew and he attempted to relocate the franchise to Austin before a new owner took over, allowing him to start an expansion team in Austin. Six Austin FC players and head coach Josh Wolff spent at least one season with the crew.
About Austin FC: The Verde and the Black will soon need something positive to boost confidence inside and outside the locker room. Austin FC last won on May 1 and has only scored one goal since then. The Oaks were excluded in five of their six games, including two in a row. Austin FC ranks 11th in the Western Conference with nine points in 10 games. El Tree had six points after the third game.
About the Columbus crew: The guests from Columbus are reigning MLS Cup champions and occupy fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 14 points from nine games. Columbus will be the second team in the Eastern Conference to play Austin FC in 2021, with Verde and Schwarz losing 2-0 on their way to Nashville in May. Columbus has been in good shape lately, winning three straight ahead of the Philadelphia midweek loss on Wednesday. Gyasi Zardes and Lucas Zelarayan lead the team with three goals each.
– Mike Craven
Estimated starting XI for Austin FC
So we’re projecting the starting XI for Austin FC. Injuries will force head coach Josh Wolff to use a brand new line-up for the ninth time in eleven games.
