Austin FC defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-1 on Wednesday night at Lumen Field behind goals from Ethan Finlay and Gyasi Zardes. Fredy Montero found the back of the net for the Sounders.
The Sounders had a chance in the 29th minute when Dylan Teves’ cross was looking for Héber, but the Brazilian’s deflection went over the bar.
Teves nearly found the go-ahead goal in the 35th minute when his shot at the end of a through ball was saved by goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
Finlay opened the scoring for Austin one minute later when Emiliano Rigoni picked him out at the top of the box and his quick, left-footed strike found the bottom corner.
Zardes notched his first goal of the season in the 57th minute when he headed home a cross from Finlay that bounced off the far post and went in.
Albert Rusnák nearly halved the deficit in the 69th minute when Héber dropped a pass to Rusnák at the top of the box, but his shot was blocked by Alex Ring and went out for a corner.
Montero pulled one back for the Sounders in the 79th minute when Alex Roldan found Jordan Morris on a through ball on the right side. Morris touched it to Héber, who spun and cushioned a pass into Montero’s path that he slotted home with a first-time finish.
Seattle almost found the equalizer in the 84th minute when Roldan picked out Morris again, but his one-timed volley was saved and pushed wide by Stuver.
The win was Austin’s first in five matches against Seattle since the Texans entered the league in 2021.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Montero opens 2023 MLS account
The Sounders’ all-time leading goalscorer added to his total when he notched his first goal of the MLS season. Montero had already scored twice in Seattle’s U.S. Open Cup win over San Diego Loyal SC but opened his 2023 league account on Wednesday.
Nouhou returns
Nouhou made his first appearance since April 15 after missing a month while recovering from a bout of Malaria. Cody Baker, who signed a First Team contract on Tuesday, earned his second consecutive MLS start at left back.
Cascadia matchup looms
The Sounders will head north of the border on Saturday when they take on the rival Vancouver Whitecaps (7:30 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM) for the first time this season. The Whitecaps fell 2-1 on Wednesday at FC Dallas.
