Captain Alexander Ring scored in first-half stoppage time and Sebastian Driussi added his MLS-leading 14th goal of the season to propel Austin FC to a 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night at Kansas City, Kan.
Brad Stuver returned from a one-match absence due to COVID-19 protocol and made one save for Austin FC (13-5-5, 44 points), who improved to 5-0-1 in their last six road matches.
Stuver highlighted his night by denying his second penalty kick of the season after making a diving stop on Daniel Salloi in the 63rd minute. Stuver went on to record his seventh clean sheet of the season and 13th in his career.
John Pulskamp finished with four saves for Sporting Kansas City (5-14-5, 20 points), who have been shut out in each of their last three matches overall.
The match turned in the 43rd minute after Sporting Kansas City’s Cameron Duke was ejected following his second yellow card in a span of four minutes. Duke’s series of bad fouls forced Sporting Kansas City to play with 10 men the rest of the match.
Austin FC wasted little time taking advantage as Ring unleased a shot from outside the box that sailed right between the legs of Pulskamp. Ring’s goal was his fourth of the season and 18th of his career.
Sporting Kansas City’s best chance to respond came after Felipe Martins was whistled for a hand ball in the penalty area in the 60th minute. Salloi, however, was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
Austin FC nearly doubled their advantage in the 67th minute, as Diego Fagundez tapped home a rebound of Ethan Finlay’s shot at the back post. The apparent goal was overturned by video review, with Fagundez being deemed offside.
Austin FC put the ball in the net on three occasions in the early going, however all three were negated due to offside calls.
Driussi provided insurance in the 90th minute after converting a through ball from Fagundez.
–Field Level Media
