Austin FC will look to continue their offensive surge when they visit the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday.
Over the last four matches, Austin has outscored opponents 11-2 while amassing a 3-0-1 record. This hot streak has included Austin FC’s three highest-scoring performances of the season, topped by their 4-1 road win over Minnesota United on Saturday.
It isn’t a surprise that Austin FC’s attack was sparked by Sebastian Driussi’s return to the lineup. After picking up a brace against Minnesota, Driussi has four goals and two assists in seven games since returning from a five-game injury absence.
“(Driussi) is the heartblood of this team,” Austin coach Josh Wolff said. “You can see what he does for us when he’s now in the front line pressing with Gyasi (Zardes), the energy that he starts to exude. He’s a role model for our entire group.”
This recent form from Austin FC (8-8-5, 29 points) has pulled them ahead of the Whitecaps (6-7-7, 25 points) in the Western Conference standings, as Vancouver is on a two-match losing streak.
The Whitecaps’ 3-2 home loss to the archrival Seattle Sounders on Saturday was a particularly tough result. Vancouver twice gave up leads in the game and was reduced to 10 men in the 89th minute when Mathias Laborda received his second yellow card.
Off the ensuing free kick in the 91st minute, Seattle’s Yeimar Gomez scored the deciding goal. The Sounders’ previous two goals came off another free kick and off a corner.
“Disappointing at this point to concede three (goals) at home, three from set pieces,” Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Gauld said. “When you’re conceding three at home you’re obviously doing something wrong … We’re just going to have to be a lot better for Wednesday.”
Gauld had a goal and an assist against Seattle, giving the midfielder five goals and four assists over his last six regular-season games.
Laborda and Austin FC’s Daniel Pereira (caution accumulation) are both suspended for Wednesday’s match.
In their first meeting of the season, Vancouver and Austin FC played to a 0-0 draw in Austin, Texas, on April 15.
–Field Level Media