Austin FC to Host Portland Timbers in Possible Playoff-Clinching Match

August 30, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Austin FC News Release

Austin FC plays to the crowd following a goal
(Austin FC)

Austin FC can clinch the first Audi MLS Cup Playoffs berth in the Club’s short history on Wednesday night, when the team hosts Portland Timbers for an 8:00 p.m. CT kickoff at Q2 Stadium. Coming off an emphatic 4-1 win over league leaders Los Angeles FC last Friday night at home, Austin FC boasts MLS’ longest active sellout streak, currently at 30 consecutive matches.

Match Storylines

Playoff Clinching Scenarios

Austin FC can guarantee itself a place in the 2022 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Wednesday night with a win vs. Portland Timbers AND any one of the following three scenarios also taking place:

Seattle Sounders FC loss or tie vs. Orlando City SC

Nashville SC loss vs. Colorado Rapids

LA Galaxy loss vs. Toronto FC + Real Salt Lake loss vs. Minnesota United FC + Nashville SC tie vs. Colorado Rapids

Rigoni at the Ready

Austin FC’s new Designated Player Emiliano Rigoni could be in line to make his Club debut on Wednesday. Rigoni, a 29-year-old Argentine winger who signed from São Paulo FC in Brazil, formerly played alongside fellow Austin FC Designated Player Sebastián Driussi when the two were both at Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg.

MVP Front-Runner

Driussi is a front-runner for the MLS MVP award this season, leading the league with 19 goals scored. He has scored in six consecutive matches and has contributed to at least one goal in 10 consecutive matches, becoming just the seventh player in league history to accomplish that feat when he scored Austin’s fourth goal against LAFC on Friday.

Driussi has been named to the MLS Team of the Week a league-best 11 times this season, has been named MLS Player of the Month twice (April and July), and started for the MLS team in the MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star game earlier this month.

Austin FC’s goals-per-match average has more than doubled since Driussi joined the team just over a year ago.

Past Meetings with Portland

Both of Austin’s meetings with Portland at Q2 Stadium last season were memorable. The first resulted in the Club’s first-ever goal and first-ever victory by a score of 4-1 at Q2 Stadium on July 1, 2021. The second was a 3-1 win for the Verde & Black on August 21, 2021.

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