Austin FC will be thrilled to see the first half of its 2023 season fade into the rearview, but not before receiving one final demoralizing blow to the collective ego in the form of a 4-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park.
The Verde and Black suffered from sloppy defending and an inability to capitalize on their own chances, which has become a disturbing habit across the first 17 games of the MLS season. After the final whistle, the appetite for flowery language was gone.
“Obviously a big disappointment for us,” assessed defender Jon Gallagher. “There’s nothing really that needs to be said. It just wasn’t good.”
The struggles for Austin FC began even before the start of the match, when center back Alex Ring had to be scratched from the starting lineup after picking up a groin injury in pregame warmups. And yet, it was Austin that got off to the better start in the match, manufacturing multiple scoring chances in the opening 15 minutes.
But the ATX back line struggled to deal with a KC set piece in the 19th minute as Mexican international striker Alan Pulido pounced on a loose ball in the box to give the hosts a lead it would never relinquish.
It was a similar story for KC’s second goal, coming just over a minute into the second half. Another set piece opportunity saw Sporting’s three attackers outmaneuver Austin’s six defenders as center back Robert Castellanos delivered the finish.
That was followed 10 minutes later by Pulido’s second goal of the match, this one coming on the end of a counter attack opportunity. ATX defender Aleksandar Radovanović, starting in place of Ring and nursing an injury of his own, whiffed on an attempted clearance, which left Pulido all alone against Brad Stuver to make it 3-0 Sporting.
Sebastián Driussi pulled a goal back for Austin off a corner kick in the 61st minute, and had a terrific chance minutes later to bring within one goal with plenty of time remaining. But as the ball fell right to his feet six yards from goal, the ATX captain inexplicably launched the ball a yard high of the crossbar, squandering El Tree’s best chance of mounting a serious comeback charge.
With Austin committing numbers forward late, Cedar Park native Khiry Shelton broke free for KC’s fourth goal, academic as it was.
“I think we all take responsibility. Obviously it’s not a result that we enjoy,” head coach Josh Wolff said.
Austin FC now gets a well-timed 10 days off between matches due to a FIFA international window, as a crucial meeting with FC Dallas awaits the night of Wednesday, June 21 at Q2 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.
This article appears in June 9 • 2023.
