AUSTIN FC v. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

Greetings to my brothers and sisters in Green. Sounders FC leave the home comforts of The Evergreen to travel to Austin, Texas and the McKalla Place football ground. Those of you going to the match, please save me some Maria’s Taco XPress.

What: MLS league match, Austin FC v. Seattle Sounders FC.

Where: McKalla Place, Austin, Texas.

When: 5:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Saturday 13 July 2024 CE.

At Stake: Sounders FC can rise as high as 10th place in the league with a victory over Austin. Should we be defeated, we could drop as low as 16th place. Sounders FC are currently 13th in the league on 31 points, 17 points adrift of leaders Inter Miami. So it’s a chance to get back in the top ten of the league, results permitting. As far as MLS Cup Qualification, you needn’t worry yourselves. It’s extremely likely we’re going to qualify.

Where to Watch: Apple TV. Although you’ll have to suffer with Max Bretos and former Dallas Burn player Brian Dunseth on commentary as this is an away match.

Where to Listen: 93.3 KJR FM and El Rey 1360 AM.

Well, the fun and games had to come to an end at some point……No not the Sounders FC, they’re absolutely crushing it…Me and the missus have contracted COVID-19. I have to say, it absolutely fucking sucks. Would’ve gotten my vaccine, but I was not eligible, because American scarcity where there should be none. So it’s going to be lots of swallowing uncomfortably large pills, feeling like someone is scraping a metal file through my lungs and throat when I cough, an absolute snot factory of a nose, and hopefully no severe damage to my vital organs. The 103º fever was unpleasant as well. So, let this be a teaching moment for ours, and remember to take precautions if you’re going to the match, for your protection and the protection of your fellow brothers and sisters in Green. If the following article seems like the incoherent ramblings of a fever dream…well…you know.

On to the football.

We are, as I mentioned above, absolutely crushing it. I predicted before the start of the season that we would win zero trophies this season. Believe me when I tell you, I absolutely hope I was 100% wrong. We’re in the Semi-Finals of the US Open Cup for the first time since 2014. There’s no way we’re winning the league, that ship has sailed, but a successful MLS Cup run seems not out of the question with the way we're playing of late. Leagues Cup is going to be a slog, but with the football we’re playing, I wouldn’t write us off. I mean, realistically the competition is steep, and the Liga MX clubs don’t have to conform to a salary cap, so…we’ll just have to see.

Those of you going to the lovely McKalla Place football ground, I mean…so new…so modern…look after each other, mask up, and if you’re sick, stay hame. It only takes one wanker who doesn’t give a shit or is going to carry on with their travel plans to avoid inconvenience and expense to infect thousands of people. Tie your scarves properly, hydrate - and that means not just beer [narrows eyes] you know who you are. Enjoy Austin, I hear they keep it weird, and that sounds familiar.

For those of us here in The Evergreen, we must gather around the telly, rounding up your mates as you can. Again, if you’re sick, stay the fuck hame. Otherwise it’s pubs and dwellings for stories and tellings. Houses and flats for pints and cats. Boats and ships for pie and chips.

It’s odd, everything else seems to be disintegrating, but football-wise things are going absolutely cracker. And for now, that has to be enough.

You know I love you lot. Don’t get all teary on me. It’s Sounders FC football, under the Saturday night lights at McKalla Place. GO ON YOU SOUNDERS!!! GET IN!!!

Before kick-off, please join me in the auld toast: “TO THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS FOOTBALL CLUB…AND VICTORY!!!”

That’s four goals in the last four matches for the winsome lad from Mercer Island. WELL DONE, JORDO!

The Good News

10-4-2 in our last 16 in all competitions. I’d say that’s a fine run by any standard.

Credit to the Gaffer for selecting a first-choice team for the first time under his stewardship. Long overdue, but victory in Sacramento was the cherry on top of the melting ice cream. Once again, credit due, and he needn’t limit selecting first-choice to the Quarter-Final stage.

We’re scoring goals, and managing to do so without being leaky at the back. No complaints.

We’re the statistically more likely to score two goals, and Austin are the statistically more likely to concede two.

The Bad News

The only thing I can think of is that in their last four matches, Austin are 2-1-1 including a victory over NYC FC, and a draw with LAFC - two top 10 clubs.

Also COVID-19 is bad. It’s fucking horrible, and also sucks. Whatever you can do to help that not spread, do that. God, I feel like shite.

The Side I Would Select

With three days between matches, we can select from the whole squad. I mean…10-4-2 in our last 16 makes me disinclined to second-guess the Gaffer so long as there are no injuries due to overuse and we continue to play good football.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Joao Paulo

RDM   Vargas

LF     Leo Chu

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Cristian

CF     Morris

The Side I Think The Gaffer Will Select

Why mess about with the team when you’ve got a good thing going. Although it seems Leo Chu has fallen out of favour with Schmetzer, so I think it’s more likely we’ll see Rothrock at left-forward.

GK     Frei

LB     Nouhou

LCH    Ragen

RCH    Gomez Andrade

RB     Alex

LDM    Joao Paulo

RDM   Vargas

LF     Rothrock

CAM   Rusnak

RF     Cristian

CF     Morris

Intangibles

The Referee for Saturday night’s match at Austin will be Jair Marrufo.

Sounders FC record with Marrufo as Ref: 18-6-7

Austin record with Marrufo as Ref: 2-0-2

General notes on personnel

Austin transfers IN:

Obrian (FC Dallas) re-entry draft 

Cleveland (Seattle Sounders FC) free

Biro (Mirassol) undisclosed fee

Burton - reserves

Rubio (Colorado Rapids) free

Hines-Ike (DC United) free

Bukari (Red Star Belgrade) €7M

Desler (Toulouse) free 

Svatok (SC Dnipro-1)

Farkarlun - draft

Austin transfers OUT:

Asensio (Orange County) free

Bruin - retired

Djeffal (Orange County) free

Keller (FC Cincinnati) undisclosed fee

Lundkvist (Hacken) free

Ocampo-Chavez - released

Redes (Olimpia - Asuncion) free

Rodriguez (Sporting Kansas City) free

Urruti (Platense) free

Lima (New Engalnd Revolution) €225,000

Romana (San Lorenzo) €689,000

Las (Louisville City) loan

Rigoni (MLS Pool) free

Djitte (Bandirmaspor) loan

Comparison against common opponents

ATX 1:2 MIN

MIN 0:1 ATX

SEA 2:0 MIN

(against MIN: ATX 1-0-1 0, SEA 1-0-0 +2) edge SEA

ATX 2:2 STL

STL 1:0 ATX

STL 1:2 SEA

(against STL: ATX 0-1-1 -1, SEA 1-0-0 +1) edge SEA

ATX 2:2 PHI

PHI 2:3 SEA

(against PHI: ATX 0-1-0 0, SEA 1-0-0 +1) edge SEA

ATX 2:1 DAL

DAL 2:1 ATX

DAL 0:0 SEA

SEA 3:2 DAL

(against DAL: ATX 1-0-1 0, SEA 1-1-0 +1) edge SEA

ATX 4:3 SJ

SJ 1:1 ATX

SJ 3:2 SEA

(against SJ: ATX 1-1-0 +1, SEA 0-0-1 -1) edge ATX

HOU 0:1 ATX

ATX 1:0 HOU

HOU 2:2 SEA

(against HOU: ATX 2-0-0 +2, SEA 0-1-0 0) edge ATX

ATX 2:0 LAG

LAG 1:0 SEA

SEA 0:0 LAG

(against LAG: ATX 1-0-0 +2, SEA 0-1-1 -1) edge ATX

VAN 0:0 ATX
SEA 0:2 VAN

SEA 1:1 VAN

(against VAN: ATX 0-1-0 0, SEA 0-1-1 -2) edge ATX

ATX 3:2 SKC

SKC 2:0 ATX

SKC 2:1 SEA

(against SKC: ATX 1-0-1 -1, SEA 0-0-1 -1) edge ATX

ATX 0:2 POR

POR 1:2 SEA

(against POR: ATX 0-0-1 -2, SEA 1-0-0 +1) edge SEA

RSL 5:1 ATX

RSL 2:0 SEA

SEA 1:1 RSL

(against RSL: ATX 0-0-1 -4, SEA 0-1-1 -2) edge SEA

COL 2:0 ATX
SEA 1:1 COL

(against COL: ATX 0-0-1 -2, SEA 0-1-0 0) edge SEA

ATX 1:1 LAFC

LAFC 2:1 SEA

(against LAFC: ATX 0-1-1 0, SEA 0-0-1 -1) edge ATX

Know Thine Enemy

Austin as they lined up in their 2:1 victory over New York City FC on 6 July at McKalla Place.

GOALKEEPER

Brad Stuver, 33

United States

Notable Clubs: Columbus Crew SC (2/0), New York City FC (7/0), Austin FC (120/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Played his university football for Cleveland State (71/0).

DEFENCE

Guilherme Biro, 24

Brazil

Notable Clubs: Coritiba (71/1), Mirassol (43/2), Austin FC (20/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €850,000

Notes: Full name: Guilherme da Trindade Dubas. 

Leo Vaisanen, 26

Finland (27/0)

Notable Clubs: HJK Helsinki (3/0), PK-35 Vaanta (9/1), Rovaniemen Palloseura (46/1), Den Bosch (45/6), IF Elfsborg (76/3), Austin FC (31/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Kapylan Pallo and HJK Helsinki. Named to Veikkausliiga Team of the Year 2018.

Brendan Hines-Ike, 29

United States

Notable Clubs: Orebro SK (70/2), KV Kortrijk (53/1), DC United (46/1), Austin FC (19/1)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by Chivas USA. Played his university football for Creighton (50/2) and South Florida (20/2).

Jon Gallagher, 28

Ireland

Notable Clubs: Atlanta United FC (16/4), Aberdeen (22/1), Austin FC (113/10)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2.5M

Notes: Developed by Beachside SC and Home United. Played his university football for Notre Dame (84/39).

MIDFIELD

Jhojan Valencia, 27

Colombia

Notable Clubs: Deportivo Cali (65/1), Cucuta Deportivo (6/0), Union Magdalena (69/2), Austin (57/0)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by Deportivo Cali. Won two Colombian league titles with Deportivo Cali.

Sebastian Driussi, 28

Argentina

Notable Clubs: River Plate (67/21), Zenit St. Petersburg (95/21), Austin FC (96/43)

Estimated Transfer Value: €8M

Notes: Developed by River Plate. Won an Argentine league title, a Copa Argentina, a Copa Libertadores, a Copa Sudamericana, a Recopa Sudamericana, and a Suruga Bank Championship with River Plate. Won three Russian league titles, a Russian Cup, and two Russian Super Cups with Zenit St. Petersburg. Named MLS Best XI 2022.

Alexander Ring, 33

Finland (44/2)

Notable Clubs: Tampere United (4/1), HJK Helsinki (27/2), Borussia Monchengladbach (14/0), 1.FC Kaiserslautern (76/8), New York City FC (113/10), Austin FC (115/11)

Estimated Transfer Value: €1M

Notes: Developed by VfL Lannesdorf, Bayer Leverkusen, RSC Anderlecht, and HJK Helsinki. Won two Finnish league titles in 2010 and 2011 with HJK Helsinki. Won a Finnish Cup with HJK Helsinki in 2011. 2011 Finnish league Rookie of the Year.

FORWARD

Owen Wolff, 19

United States

Notable Clubs: Austin FC (74/2)

Estimated Transfer Value: €3M

Notes: Developed by Columbus Crew SC, Atlanta United FC, and Austin FC. Has 10 caps for United States at youth levels, with three goals.

Gyasi Zardez, 32

United States (68/14)

Notable Clubs: LA Galaxy (131/34), Columbus Crew SC (110/54), Colorado Rapids (26/9), Austin FC (50/8)

Estimated Transfer Value: €800,000

Notes: Developed by LA Galaxy. Played his university football for Cal State Bakersfield (56/38). Won an MLS Cup with LA Galaxy. Won two CONCACAF Gold Cups with United States. Named 2018 MLS Comeback Player of the Year. Won an MLS Cup with Columbus. Won a Campeones Cup with Columbus.

Jader Obrien, 29

Colombia

Notable Clubs: Uniautonoma (6/0), Deportes Tolima (29/0), Cucuta Deportivo (10/3), Aguilas Doradas (61/24), FC Dallas (94/17), Austin FC (22/5)

Estimated Transfer Value: €2M

Notes: Developed by Uniautonoma.

Familiar Faces

Austin goalkeeper Matt Bersano played for the Sounders FC Reserves (2/0) in 2016.

Austin goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland played for the Sounders FC (22/0) from 2020-2023.

Austin Coach Terry Boss played for the Sounders FC (1/0) from 2009-2011 and had seven caps for Puerto Rico.

Austin Goalkeeping Coach Preston Burpo played for the A-League/USL iteration of the Seattle Sounders (143/0) from 1997-2005.

Squads

Austin from:

Bersano, Cleveland, Stuver, Biro, Cascante, Gallagher, Hedges, Hines-Ike, Jimenez, Kolmanic, Vaisanen, Burton, Pereira, Ramirez, Ring, Valencia, Wolff, Driussi, Farkarlun, Finlay, Fodrey, Obrian, Rubio, Zardez.

Sounders FC from:

Frei, Thomas, Baker, Bell, Gomez Andrade, Hawkins, Nathan, Nouhou, Ragen, Alex, Atencio, Baker-Whiting, de la Vega, Joao Paulo, Kitahara, Leyva, Rusnak, Vargas, Morris, Cristian, Leo Chu, Musovski, Rothrock, Teves.

Injury List

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time for Match-day 25, information for Match-day 26 was unavailable at 10.30 p.m. PDT, Austin FC’s website and Niko Moreno’s twitter account were used for a cross-references)

Austin -

OUT: none.

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Sounders FC -

OUT: Ruidiaz (leg), Rodrigues (hamstring).

MATCHDAY DECISION: none.

Discipline

(as listed on mlssoccer.com at press time)

Austin: No players suspended. Cascante, Driussi, and Gallagher are out next match if booked.

Sounders FC: No players suspended.

Fun Fact

Sounders FC Reserves have won three in a row in MLS Next Pro. The next fixture is Sunday 14 July at Swangard Stadium where they will play Vancouver Whitecaps 2. Kick-off scheduled for 4 p.m. PDT. Go on, lads! Get in!