Match Recap: Sounders FC Drops 2-1 Home Result to Austin FC

SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC (7-4-2, 23 points) fell 2-1 Wednesday evening to Austin FC (3-5-4, 13 points) on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field. Fredy Montero scored the lone goal for Seattle, while Ethan Finlay recorded a goal and assist for the visitors, who earned their first-ever win over the Rave Green since entering MLS in 2021.

Ethan Finlay opened the scoring for Austin in the 36^th minute, receiving a ball at the top of the area and taking a turn and firing a shot past the hands of Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Gyasi Zardes doubled the visitors’ lead in the 57^th minute, getting his head on a cross by Finlay and guiding the ball into the back of the net.

Seattle pulled one back in the 79^th minute courtesy of Montero, who tallied his franchise-leading 79^th goal for Sounders FC across all competitions. Jordan Morris combined on the edge of the area with Héber, who laid a ball off for Montero, who slid the shot into the bottom corner for the strike. It marked the first assist of the season for both Morris and Héber.

Following tonight’s match, Sounders FC hits the road to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, May 20 at BC Place (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

• Despite today’s loss, Seattle remains in first place in the Western Conference. On 23 points, the Rave Green are one point ahead of LAFC and two points ahead of FC Dallas. Sounders FC now looks ahead to a Cascadia Cup clash at BC Place against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).

• Tonight’s loss was Seattle’s first against Austin FC. In the all-time regular season series against Austin, Seattle moves to 2-1-2, with a 1-1-1 mark at Lumen Field. 

• With his goal in the 79^th minute of play, Sounders FC all-time leading scorer Fredy Montero bagged his 79^th goal in all competitions for the Rave Green. The Colombian remains the club’s all-time leading scorer, four tallies ahead of teammate Raúl Ruidíaz.

• Goalkeeper Stefan Frei achieved a major career milestone tonight, making two saves and passing Jon Busch for the fourth-most saves in MLS history (1,152). Frei has been an ironman for Sounders FC since joining the club in 2014, and recently he broke Osvaldo Alonso’s club record in the MLS era for career starts across all competitions. Frei still trails Alonso’s club record for all-competitions appearances (339). He is also first in MLS in shutouts so far this season with seven.

• After being officially signed to the First Team on Tuesday, Sounders FC Academy product Cody Baker made his first home start at Lumen Field for the club on Wednesday night. The Issaquah native started his first match for the club on May 13 at Houston after making his Major League Soccer debut as a substitute on May 7 vs. Sporting Kansas City (via short-term agreements). Baker started 25 of his 40 appearances for MLS NEXT Pro side Tacoma Defiance since 2021. 

• Head Coach Brian Schmetzer returned to the same starting XI that defeated Houston 1-0 last weekend, with Stefan Frei in goal, alongside Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen and Cody Baker playing across the backline. The midfield was anchored by João Paulo and Albert Rusnák in the middle, with Jordan Morris and Dylan Teves playing on the flanks. Héber played up front as the lone forward.

• Entering the match as a substitute in the 60^th minute, Léo Chú returned from the injury report following a brief bout with a midfoot sprain suffered during the Sporting KC match on May 7. Through 12 regular-season matches played, the Brazilian has five assists and one goal in 2023.

• Nouhou also made his return to the team following a bout with illness, entering the match in the 84^th minute of play. The Cameroonian international last appeared for Sounders FC on April 15 at Portland.

• Austin FC forward Gyasi Zardes netted his sixth goal against Sounders FC dating back to 2013 in all competitions. The California native previously played for the LA Galaxy (2013-2017) and the Columbus Crew (2018-2022). Zardes’ five regular-season goals against the Rave Green are tied for sixth all-time amongst opposing goal-scorers.

• Former Sounders FC forward Will Bruin returned to Lumen Field for the first time since departing the club this past offseason, coming into the game in the 83^rd minute. Bruin scored 32 goals in 152 appearances across all competitions for the Rave Green from 2017 through 2022. The 13-year MLS veteran is in his first season with Austin.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Austin FC 2

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field

Referee: Rosendo Mendoza

Assistants: Kyle Atkins, Chris Wattam

Fourth Official: Stefan Tanaka-Freundt

VAR: Younes Marrakchi

Attendance: 30,026

Weather: 73 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

ATX – Ethan Finlay (Adam Lundkvist, Emiliano Rigoni) 36’

ATX – Gyasi Zardes (Ethan Finlay, Jon Gallagher) 57’

SEA – Fredy Montero (Héber, Jordan Morris) 79’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

ATX – Dani Pereira (caution) 74’

ATX – Will Bruin (caution) 90’+1’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Cody Baker (Nouhou 84’); João Paulo, Albert Rusnák (Josh Atencio 71’), Dylan Teves (Léo Chú 60’), Nico Lodeiro (Fredy Montero 71’), Jordan Morris; Héber

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Xavier Arreaga, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Sota Kitahara, Nouhou, Reed Baker-Whiting

Total shots: 13

Shots on goal: 4

Fouls: 5

Offside: 3

Corner-Kicks: 8

Saves: 2

Austin FC – Brad Stuver; Leo Vaisanen, Jon Gallagher, Adam Lundkvist, Aleksandar Radovanovic (Nick Lima 61’); Jhojan Valencia, Dani Pereira, Alex Ring; Emiliano Rigoni, Gyasi Zardes (Will Bruin 83’), Ethan Finlay (Diego Fagundez 90’)

Substitutes not used: Matt Bersano, Kipp Keller, Hector Jimenez, CJ Fodrey, Sofiane Djeffal, David Rodriguez

- SOUNDERS FC -