The Seattle Sounders fell 2-1 at Austin FC on Sunday at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, behind goals from Diego Rubio and Myrto Uzuni. Georgi Minoungou tallied for the Sounders.
The Sounders dominated possession in the opening half-hour, and neither team was able to muster much of a threat on either goal.
Albert Rusnák had a great opportunity in the 31st minute when a ball was attempted to be cleared, but Rusnák hit a half-volley from the top of the box that was deflected by Oleksandr Svatok and out for a corner.
Cristian Roldan had a header in the 37th minute that was destined for goal but denied by a diving save at the near post by goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
Austin took the lead in the 42nd minute when Jackson Ragen attempted to pass from just shy of midfield, but it was blocked by a pressuring Rubio. The ball caromed into space in behind the Sounders’ defense and Rubio won the foot race before depositing the finish past Andrew Thomas, who was starting in goal for Stefan Frei, who was out with an illness.
Uzuni had a clever bit of skill in the final third to get a shot off in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, but his effort was right at Thomas.
The Sounders drew level just 35 seconds into the second half when Roldan played a nice ball over the top for Danny Musovski into space. Musovski played a quick ball to the center of the box where an onrushing Minoungou took it first time and found the far post.
Rubio had another opportunity in the 53rd minute when he took a ball down off the volley from the top of the box, but his hit was right at Thomas.
In the 54th minute, Obed Vargas made a 50-yard run through the midfield with the ball and fired a shot from 20 yards out, but his strike sailed just wide.
Jordan Morris almost scored instantly after coming on as a substitute as well, but his shot was parried away by Stuver in the 60th minute.
Stuver denied Morris again in the 71st minute when Jesús Ferreira slipped a beautiful ball in behind the Austin defense, but Stuver got big and deflected away Morris’ 1-v-1 attempt.
Ferreira got in behind himself in the 82nd minute and tried to touch the ball around Stuver, but the Austin goalkeeper got down quickly to snatch the ball.
Stuver made the best save of the night in the 86th minute when he dove hard to his right to deny a shot from Minoungou off a cross that was inches away from getting over the line.
Thomas made a beautiful save of his own in the second minute of second-half stoppage time when he made a diving reaction save to his left off a header from CJ Fodrey.
Austin won the match at the death in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time when Fodrey headed a ball back across the mouth of goal for Uzuni, who finished on the doorstep.
The Sounders finish the match in fifth place with 45 points from 30 matches (12-9-9). Seattle returns to Lumen Field next Saturday for a huge Cascadia Cup clash against the Vancouver Whitecaps (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS).
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Postseason berth on hold
The Sounders had a chance to punch their ticket to the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs with a win or a draw and some help from other results around the league, but Seattle’s quest for the postseason will wait another week.
Instant impact
It took Minoungou just 35 seconds to get on the score sheet after checking into the match as a halftime substitute. The goal was the Burkinabé international’s second goal in all competitions and first in MLS play.
Rusnák back in XI
After battling a hamstring injury, Rusnák returned to the Sounders’ Starting XI on Sunday for the first time since Aug. 6 in a Leagues Cup match against Liga MX’s Club Tijuana. Seattle will be glad to have its Designated Player attackers back as the seasons nears its conclusion, as Rusnák has 10 goals and eight assists 26 MLS matches this year.
