Djitté Hat Trick Clinches Austin FC’s First Playoff Berth

Moussa Djitté (2) and Diego Fagundez celebrate a goal under the "Verde Lights" at Q2 Stadium during a match against Real Salt Lake (photo courtesy of Austin FC)

For two agonizing weeks, Austin FC hung on the precipice of clinching an MLS Cup Playoff berth like a bag of chips that just wouldn’t fall down the vending machine. Turns out, it needed a Moose to jar it loose.

Scarcely utilized striker Moussa Djitté took just 20 minutes to score not once, not twice, but thrice Wednesday night in a history-making substitute appearance at Q2 Stadium. Djitté’s hat trick – the first in Austin FC history – lifted the Verde and Black to a 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake and brought the club’s season-long point total to 54 with three games remaining. No more than five clubs in the Western Conference can mathematically finish with a higher tally, meaning Austin FC is officially a playoff team in just its second season. It’s a massive milestone for the organization and one its fanbase should revel in.

Better yet, the badly needed win interrupted the club’s worst stretch of the season and snapped a three-match losing streak. For the first hour Wednesday, it seemed likelier than not that the skid would live on. Austin FC looked disjointed on both ends of the pitch in the first half as Real Salt Lake dominated possession and scoring chances. The Oaks were fortunate to reach the halftime whistle with the match scoreless. They were even more fortunate that head coach Josh Wolff knew exactly what, or who, the game needed.

“I told Moussa at halftime, ‘Be ready.’ He’s coming. And I wasn’t going to waste too much time,” Wolff said, confident that the Senegalese powerhouse would give Real Salt Lake’s center backs fits. “Bringing in Moussa, his physicality is different. It’s noticeably different. There’s not a player on their team that can deal with Moussa.”

Djitté’s impact was immediate, scoring with his first touch of the ball in the 60th minute. He galloped into the box, called for Diego Fagundez to find him with a cross from the flank, then poked the ensuing pass home for the opening goal. Fifteen minutes later, Djitté scored on the rebound after Ethan Finlay hit the crossbar with an eye-popping volley attempt from outside the box. Finally, “Moose” capped off a lethal Austin FC counter attack in the 80th minute – initiated by a bold run from center back Ruben Gabrielsen – with a thunderous right-footed finish past RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath.

Not only did Austin FC lock up a playoff spot with the win, the club moved to within a point of securing the opportunity to host a first-round match at Q2 Stadium. “We’re hopeful we can get in the playoffs and make a run but…the more that we can ensure playing in front of these fans and getting this boost, the better your chances are,” Wolff said.

His club will get another chance to play in front of the Verde Faithful on Saturday night when Austin FC hosts Nashville SC, two weeks after Nashville handed Austin a 3-0 defeat at Nissan Stadium.

For more Austin FC news and analysis, visit The Austin Chronicle's Austin FC hub. Follow “The Verde Report” columnist Eric Goodman on Twitter: @goodman.