Austin FC striker Diego Rubio celebrates scoring the opening goal in a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy Credit: credit: Austin FC

In front of a sellout crowd, a national TV audience, and even Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, Austin FC captured a signature 2-0 victory over the Western Conference-leading LA Galaxy Saturday afternoon at Q2 Stadium.

First-half goals from Diego Rubio and Jáder Obrian, coupled with the Verde and Black’s second consecutive shutout defensive performance, secured a fourth win in five matches for Major League Soccer’s hottest club.

Austin FC struck an early blow, converting the very first shot of the match into the opening goal in the seventh minute thanks to some terrific team play. First, a spell of coordinating pressing created a turnover in midfield that sent ATXFC on the counter attack. Then, Sebastián Driussi, Alex Ring, and Obrian combined to put Rubio in on goal, where a well-placed finish gave the Chilean his third goal of the season.

Austin capitalized on another quick strike in the 19th minute to double the lead, once again thanks to forced turnover. In one fluid motion, Ring dispossessed Galaxy forward Miguel Berry, then fired a long pass toward Obrian making a run in behind the LA defense. Obrian took two stellar touches, then shot from almost the exact same spot from which Rubio scored, to similar effect.

The Verde and Black defense held firm throughout the 90 minutes, while Brad Stuver saved all five LA shots on target to cap off his third clean sheet of the season.

It was an overall tremendous performance for Austin FC and one that, naturally, had confidence levels in the Verde locker room at a season high.

“It should give the players confidence,” head coach Josh Wolff said. “I mean, you can see today they perform with confidence. They performed with precision, they performed with discipline, and we’re going to need that.”

Next up for El Tree is arguably an even tougher test next weekend, on the road against a Vancouver Whitecaps club that’s dropped points in just three matches all season. A win there, however, would have Austin in talks as one of the most dangerous clubs in the entire Western Conference.

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.

This article appears in April 26 • 2024.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Eric Goodman has covered Austin FC for the Austin Chronicle since before the club first kicked a ball in 2021. His column, The Verde Report, continues the Chronicle's decades-long tradition of soccer-focused commentary, serving as a spiritual successor to Nick Barbaro's Soccer Watch column. Eric has also covered multiple Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups as a freelance sports journalist, and is a two-time Emmy-winning producer.