2021 Austin FC season

Austin FC
2021 season
ChairmanAnthony Precourt
Head coachJosh Wolff
StadiumQ2 Stadium
MLS12th Western Conference, 24th MLS
U.S. Open CupCanceled
Copa Tejas Division I3rd Place
Copa Tejas Shield7th Place
Top goalscorerDiego Fagundez, Cecilio Dominguez
Average home league attendance20,738
Biggest winATX 4–1 POR (7/1)
Biggest defeatSJ 4–0 ATX (10/20)
2022 →

The 2021 Austin FC season was the club's inaugural season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of soccer in the United States. This was also the first season a top-tier sports franchise is playing in the Greater Austin region.[1]

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the season began on April 17, 2021, about a month and a half later than normal, and concluded on November 7, 2021. Outside of MLS, Austin FC would have competed in the 2021 U.S. Open Cup, but that competition was postponed indefinitely in April[2] before being canceled in July.[3]

Austin FC won their first match in Commerce City, CO against the Colorado Rapids 3-1, where midfielder Diego Fagundez scored the club's first ever goal.[4] They played their first game in Austin in front of 20,738 fans, a 0-0 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes.[5] They won their first home game against the Portland Timbers 4-1, a match which Austin FC winger Jon Gallagher scored the first ever MLS goal at Q2 Stadium.[6]

Austin FC struggled in their inaugural campaign despite selling out all their home games.[7] They finished 12th in the Western Conference with 9 wins, 4 draws, and 21 losses. Alexander Ring served as captain,[8] and both Cecilio Dominguez and Diego Fagundez led the club with 7 goals.[9]

  1. ^ Ryan, Madelin (August 12, 2019). "Austin one of the only big US cities without a pro sports team – for now". KVUE. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "Open Cup Committee Determines 2021 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Will Not Be Held This Spring". ussoccer.com. April 16, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED FOR NEXT EDITION OF LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP IN 2022". ussoccer.com. July 20, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  4. ^ West, Phil (April 24, 2021). "Austin FC make history with "momentous" first MLS win". www.MLSSoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference bible was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Craven, Mike (July 1, 2021). "At the whistle: Austin FC makes history with first goal, win at Q2 Stadium". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  7. ^ LoRé, Michael (November 30, 2021). "Austin FC's Inaugural Season Was 'Absolutely A Success' Despite On-Field Struggles". www.Forbes.com. Forbes. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  8. ^ Wallace, Roger (April 14, 2021). "Midfielder Alex Ring becomes Austin FC's first-ever captain". KXAN. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "MLS Player Stats | MLSsoccer.com".