Maxi Urruti's late goal sends Austin FC past CF Montreal

Updated: Oct 12, 2023, 03:20 pm
Maximiliano Urruti was the matchwinner for Austin FC.
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Maximiliano Urruti scored in the 88th minute to lift host Austin FC to a 1-0 win against CF Montreal on Saturday.

Urruti took a header pass from defender Jon Gallagher at the top of the goal area for a tap-in, giving Austin its first win of the season in its second game.

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Montreal has been shut out in each of its first two matches.

The home side had the bulk of the chances in the opening half. In the 10th minute, winger Emiliano Rigoni fired a shot from the middle of the box but Montreal defender Kamal Miller dove to get his leg on the ball and deflect it up and away from the net.

Rigoni had another opportunity five minutes later, taking a cross from Gallagher at the spot but Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois, in his first MLS start, got a piece of it to redirect it wide of the net.

Montreal finally generated some time on the attack midway through the first half but couldn't get a shot on target, including in the 27th minute, when Miller's attempt from just outside the box rolled past the left post.

Austin forward Gyasi Zardes found the back of the net from the middle of the box in the 32nd minute but the goal was waved off for offside.

A minute later, Montreal had its best chance of the half when Romell Quioto fed a cross to midfielder Sean Rea. The 20-year-old got his leg up to try to redirect it into the net but was denied by goalkeeper Brad Stuver.

Stuver was sharp again with a quick save on Mathieu Choiniere's shot from the right side of the box in the 41st minute.

Choiniere again had a chance to break the deadlock in the 58th minute, coming down the right side with speed but a slide by Austin midfielder Alex Ring at the six-yard box directed the ball away.

Urruti, fresh off the bench, came close to giving Austin the lead in the 77th minute off a feed from Sebastian Druissi but Sirois got a piece of the ball with his hand to tip it wide.