João Klauss found the net on a splendid, decisive goal in the 86th minute to lift expansion St. Louis City to a 3-2 in over Austin FC on Saturday night in Austin, Texas in the teams' season opener.
Expansion St. Louis City shocked the home side by winning its inaugural MLS game, with goals by Klauss and former Austin player Jared Stroud in a span of eight minutes late in the match to produce the come-from-behind upset.
Jared Stroud goal vs. Austin (2-2)
Stroud back in Austin pic.twitter.com/uRlAQNE7ch
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) February 26, 2023
João Klauss goal vs. Austin (3-2)
JOÃOMG pic.twitter.com/kqIClvbodl
— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) February 26, 2023
St. Louis City's Tim Parker scored the game's first goal — and the first in team history — in the 24th minute as he bulled his way to the goal mouth to get his head on a corner kick from Eduard Löwen after Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver came way off his line but couldn't corral the pass.
Another look at the FIRST CITY GOAL!!
Löwen ➡️ Parker #AllForCITY pic.twitter.com/8JO83kaauh— St Louis CITY SC (@stlCITYsc) February 26, 2023
Austin got the equalizer from Sebastián Driussi, last season's runner-up for league MVP, four minutes into first-half stoppage time. The scoring play started with a through ball from the defensive end that Driussi reined in just outside the box. He took his time, steadied the ball and lifted a soft shot over the head of St. Louis goalkeeper Roman Bürki and into the corner of the net to make it 1-1.
World class from El CRACK! pic.twitter.com/BhbQ8DvEzd
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) February 26, 2023
Jon Gallagher's goal in the 72nd minute put Austin in front. Gallagher was led into the box by a dead-on pass by Diego Fagúndez and moved the ball deftly to his left foot while in traffic before unleashing a shot into the bottom-right corner of the net.
That man @JonGallagher96 knows how to get @Q2Stadium rocking! pic.twitter.com/UaUWOXLBOL
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) February 26, 2023
But a glaring mistake by Austin rookie defender Kipp Keller allowed Stroud the chance to tie the game and reverse the momentum of the match. Keller was playing the ball back to Stuver but didn't see Stroud, who had just got off the ground after being knocked down. Stroud made short work of the opportunity, booting a right-footed shot past a defenseless Stuver and into the net in the 78th minute.
That set the stage for Klauss and his world-class goal. He took a long pass from Nicholas Gioacchini, split defenders and dribbled deep into the offensive zone before cutting back toward the goal and using the outside of his right foot to curl a shot into the far left corner of the net.
(Field Level Media)
