In front of a sold-out crowd on Sunday night at Q2 Stadium, Maxi Urruti’s strike in the 58th minute was the difference as Austin FC earned a 1-0 win over Minnesota United FC.
The first half passed much as the previous meeting between the two sides did at Q2 Stadium last season - with Austin controlling possession and Minnesota content to stay compact and limit scoring opportunities. The Verde & Black had 65 percent possession through the opening 45 minutes and outpassed the Loons 280 to 137, but each team only registered one total shot.
Things began to open up in the second half, with Brad Stuver making a big save to deny Joseph Rosales in the early stages. Soon after though, ATXFC got the goal its attacking intent deserved, as Maxi Urruti swept home a sweet right-footed volley from Hector Jimenez’s cross.
Urruti nearly doubled the lead and his tally in the 77th minute. Driussi played his fellow Argentine in behind the defense, but his clever chip was cleared off the line by Michael Boxall. Driussi then had an opportunity fall his way moments later, forcing a quality save from Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
Minnesota’s best chance of the match arrived with about eight minutes remaining, when Diego Fagundez was well-positioned to stop a goal-bound header from crossing the line. Dani Pereira nearly netted his first career goal in the closing moments, but in the end, the Verde & Black just needed the one goal to walk out as winners.
THREE THINGS
- LOONS LEFT FRUSTRATED: ATXFC is the first team to keep a clean sheet against Minnesota so far this season.
- IN FORM URRUTI: Verde & Black striker Maxi Urruti has now scored in back-to-back matches.
- HOME COOKING: Austin is 7-1-1 in its last nine matches at Q2 Stadium, with 21 goals scored and six goals allowed in that span.
UP NEXT
Austin FC will play its third away match and seventh match overall of the 2022 Major League Soccer regular season against D.C. United on Saturday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The match will feature a regional TV broadcast in English language on KNVA (The CW Austin), as well as a livestream on AustinFC.com and the Austin FC app.
In Spanish language, the match will feature a livestream on UnivisionAustin.com and the Univision Austin app.
On radio, the match will be broadcast on KASE-FM (ALT 97.5) in English, as well as on TUDN Radio Austin (104.3-HD2, KLQB) in Spanish.
