Driussi’s Late Heroics Power Austin FC to Dramatic Win Over Houston Dynamo

Sebastián Driussi scores the winning goal in the 87th minute of Austin FC's 1-0 win vs. the Houston Dynamo (credit: Austin FC)

A banner day for Austin FC that saw the club named the host of the 2025 MLS All-Star Game ended in equally celebratory fashion as Sebastián Driussi’s 87th-minute goal sealed a 1-0 win for the Verde and Black against the Houston Dynamo Wednesday night at Q2 Stadium.

With MLS commissioner Don Garber and Shazam himself (Zachary Levi) looking on, Driussi appeared in the right place at the right time following a corner kick to hammer home a loose ball and ignite bedlam in the nearby ATXFC supporters’ section.

Driussi finds it late! 🔥

Austin in the driver's seat at home. // #RivalryWeek by @continentaltire pic.twitter.com/3vTnbtYVaG

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 16, 2024

The goal handsomely rewarded those who had the patience to stick with an otherwise frustrating, at times sluggish, match between two Copa Tejas rivals.

“It was sloppy. I think both coaches would say it was sloppy at times,” Austin head coach Josh Wolff said. “So when the opportunities do come, you hope your stars come forward. And Seba has been that star for us since he's got here.”

In what has become something of an odd trend for the club this season, Austin FC once again won a match in which it trailed in possession, shots, shots on goal, and expected goals. The biggest reason for that has been the continued spectacular play of goalkeeper Brad Stuver, who added six saves (including three big ones) to his league-leading tally and secured his league-leading fifth shutout.

“We are in a confidence business and when you record clean sheets, when you get results, you start feeling a little bit more confident,” Stuver said. “Being able to put in the defensive work that we're putting in and also seeing the results at the end of the game, I think it gives all of us a little bit of a confidence boost.”

Austin FC has now won four consecutive matches at Q2 Stadium. The club hasn’t lost at its home ground since the season opener in February, and now finds itself in the top-six of the Western Conference standings for the first time all season.

There’s no time to revel in that success, though, as scheduling congestion sees ATXFC right back on the Q2 Stadium pitch Saturday evening to take on Sporting Kansas City at 7:30pm.

“We'll come ready to go and I know our fans will do that for us as well,” Wolff said.

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