Austin FC outshot 23-3, but earn 0-0 draw vs. Sounders

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Austin FC, Seattle Sounders play to 0-0 draw

Austin FC, Seattle Sounders play to 0-0 draw

Mar 3, 2024, 06:05 am

Goalkeeper Brad Stuver made five saves as Austin FC earned an improbable 0-0 draw Saturday night at Seattle despite being outshot 23-3.

Austin (0-1-1, 1 point) didn't even attempt a shot until the 74th minute, when Jhojan Valencia's looping attempt from 25 yards bounced once before settling in Seattle goalie Andrew Thomas' arms. That was one of two saves for Thomas.

The Sounders (0-1-1, 1 point) nearly won their home opener in second-half stoppage time as Raul Ruidiaz's volley off a cross from Josh Atencio caromed off the underside of the crossbar but stayed out of the net.

Atencio missed just wide left on a 20-yard shot in the 52nd minute and Ruidiaz, who came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute, did the same in the 65th on a 12-yard try.

Jordan Morris put a header from the top of the 6-yard box wide right in the 72nd.

Stuver's best save was a diving stop on a header by Atencio from 8 yards out in the 76th minute.

Stuver also leaped to parry away a 15-yard attempt by Leo Chu from the left side of the penalty area in the 80th minute.

In the first half, Seattle had a 9-0 edge in shots, though the Sounders put only two of those on target.

Stuver stopped both of those easily, on a 35-yard attempt by Nouhou Tolo in the 18th minute and Chu's sharp-angled try from the left side of the penalty area in the 35th.

The Sounders had a couple of attempts sail just over the crossbar midway through the half, the first a header from Jackson Ragen off a corner kick and then a 15-yard attempt by Chu two minutes later.

Austin's Zan Kolmanic made a sliding block of a shot by Alex Roldan from the right side of the penalty area in the 29th minute.

Stuver also made a save on Morris' shot from the center of the penalty area in the 50th minute.

The Sounders were without four starters in goalie Stefan Frei (hamstring), midfielders Joao Paulo (hip) and Albert Rusnak (ankle) and central defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade (fitness).

Austin played without captain Sebastian Driussi (hamstring) and center back Leo Vaisanen (plantar fasciitis).

--Field Level Media