Late surge gives Austin FC 3-1 MLS win over Seattle Sounders
· Yahoo Sports
This was the start to the second half of the MLS season Austin FC needed.
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Spurred by a dominating final 15 minutes Wednesday, the Verde and Black took a 3-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC at Q2 Stadium as they begin what they hope is a march back toward relevancy after being one of the worst teams in the league prior to the World Cup break.
Little-used midfielder Ervin Torres, who had played 24 minutes all season and made just his third appearance, turned into the club's super sub after coming on in the 83rd minute by providing clinical assists on goals by Myrto Uzuni and Christian Ramírez.
Ilie Sánchez scored on a header from a corner kick to give Austin FC a brief lead early in the first half before Seattle's Paul Rothrock tallied the equalizer 15 minutes later.
Here are some key takeaways from the match as Austin FC (4-7-5, 17 points) plays Saturday at Houston.
Being in better shape gave Austin FC a needed win
Having put itself in a hole in the first half of the season, Wednesday's match was more important for Austin FC than just a normal contest in July.
Being 14th in the Western Conference, the Verde and Black's margin for error the rest of the season is thin if they have playoff hopes, and dropping points at home in their first game in two months would have been a bad look.
And though the game was a slog for 50 minutes after Seattle's goal, Austin FC dominated after the second-half hydration break.
"I think our fitness level showed through," Austin FC midfielder Jon Gallagher said. "The first 75 minutes were very, very cagey. Neither team was doing anything … and it was kind of a sparring match. At the hydration break, we were talking about how tired (Seattle) looked and how we could pounce on that. With how hard we've worked the last five weeks, the preseason was another level of intensity and has been a shock to the body. But you also feel it because the last 15 minutes, we reap the rewards."
In a match that was played in brutal heat with the temperature close to 100 degrees at kickoff and still above 90 at the final whistle - Gallagher called it "probably one of the toughest games physically I've ever played in" - Seattle wilted down the stretch while Austin FC was energized.
Midfielders Owen Wolff and Przemyslaw Placheta provided a jolt as second-half subs, particularly after the hydration break, and Ramírez and Torres only added to that when they came on late.
"It's a great result for us," Austin FC coach Davy Arnaud said. "After the water break, the guys started to find some of the things we talked about and we've been working on. This was the first test to see what we're about in a real game. … The grit and ability of our guys to stay in the game was really good."
Man of the match: Ervin Torres
Torres, who is a product of the club's academy and won't turn 19 until November, was simply brilliant despite being on the field for only 14 minutes, including stoppage time.
After a poor Seattle turnover, he produced a nifty through ball in the box that Uzuni put away with a quick shot. A few minutes later, he beat a defender and provided Ramírez a perfect pass that the veteran forward finished with a quick turn.
"The first assist was exciting and gave me more energy to play in the heat," Torres said. "Getting two assists - as a player, it gives you confidence."
Arnaud noted Torres earned playing time with his performances in training the last five weeks.
"He still obviously has a lot of room to grow and keep getting better, but he has that ability," he said.
Gallagher said that Torres, who probably earned more minutes going forward, made the most of his chance.
"Pro sports is about taking opportunities, and when they come, you have to grab them," he said. "And he did that tonight."
Davy Arnaud as a coach
Arnaud made some interesting moves, mainly starting Besard Sabovic over Wolff and not playing Jayden Nelson, which would have raised questions in a loss. He also used a different formation than predecessor Nico Estévez with a three-man backline and played Gallagher and Joseph Rosales as inverted wingbacks.
But the coach gets the glory in a 3-1 win, and as fellow media pointed out, he perfectly timed his substitutions.
Gallagher offered some insight into how Arnaud operates as a coach, noting he doesn't put up with any nonsense.
"He demands a lot," he said. "And if you don't want to be on the bus, that's tough. So he wants guys that want to be a part of this and want to help the program move forward. He's been strict with that, and guys have to button up and do their jobs."
AUSTIN, TEXAS - JULY 22: Ilie Sánchez #6 and Ervin Torres #38 of Austin FC celebrate the go-ahead goal during the second half against Seattle Sounders FC at Q2 Stadium on July 22, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Noah Goldberg/Getty Images) (Noah Goldberg/Getty Images)Sign up for the Daily Briefing from the Austin American-Statesman. Start your day with the must-read headlines from Austin's most trusted news source.
This article originally published at Late surge gives Austin FC 3-1 MLS win over Seattle Sounders.