Driussi bags league-leading 19th goal as Austin FC hammer LAFC

Austin FC made a statement in their top-of-the-conference clash against Western Conference leaders Los Angeles FC, piling on three quick goals to open the second half of their 4-1 victory.

Incredibly, LAFC actually had more expected goals (1.58 to 1.02), but Austin were clinical with their difficult chances.

Austin opened the scoring in the 32nd minute through a picture-perfect direct free kick from Diego Fagundez, and it would be the only goal from the opening 45 minutes.

The second half was when the contest opened up, with the two teams combining for eight shots in the first half, before attempting 18 in the second half.

Austin’s home fans did not have to wait long after the break to double their lead, with an indirect free kick this time leading to squaring ball back across goals, which Maximiliano Urruti was able to meet at the front post and loop over the LAFC goalkeeper with his glancing header in the 47th minute.

Urruti then took advantage of a mistake deep in the LAFC defense less than five minutes later, scooping up the loose ball in the penalty box and dribbling around the keeper to grab his brace, and make it 3-0 in the 51st.

Sebastian Driussi made it 4-0 for the hosts in the 59th minute, turning and hitting from a tight angle for his 19th goal of the MLS campaign, which is three more than any other player.

Cristian Arango nabbed a consolation goal almost immediately in the 61st minute, but that would be the only time they found the back of the net as Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver made four saves.

With the win, Austin have cut LAFC’s lead atop the Western Conference to six points.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME @DiegolFagundez!?!? pic.twitter.com/RZooeR9a6R

— Austin FC (@AustinFC) August 27, 2022

Meanwhile, the Portland Timbers held onto their position on the fringe of the West’s playoff picture with a 2-1 home win against the Seattle Sounders.

It was the Sounders jumping ahead early through an eighth-minute strike from Yeimar Gomez, but it was all Portland in the first half, controlling 65 per cent of the possession and producing nine shots, while Gomez’s goal was the visitors’ only shot.

The Timbers were rewarded for their dominance with a penalty in the 41st minute, which Dairon Asprilla converted to head into the break at 1-1.

Possession flipped after half-time, with Seattle controlling 66 per cent in the second half, but they struggled to create chances.

Asprilla turned from scorer to distributor for the second goal, setting up Sebastian Blanco for a point-blank tap-in to go up 2-1 in the 51st minute.

The win leaves Portland two points clear of eighth-placed Los Angeles Galaxy in the race for the Western Conference’s final playoff spot, although the Galaxy have three games in-hand.

Seba doin’ Seba things #RCTID pic.twitter.com/1cNCHKy6SV

— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) August 27, 2022