“It was electric tonight,” said lively winger Jon Gallagher, who experienced a few footballing temples in a 2019-20 season spent on loan with Scottish side Aberdeen.
“When I stepped out right before the game started, I got the chills,” said ATX midfielder Diego Fagundez after the 0-0 draw, noting that the atmosphere posed the welcome problem of teammates’ commands being inaudible in the din.
By now Austin’s rapturous reception of their new team – Saturday also marked the debut of top-flight professional sports in the city – is well known.
But all the buzz and good business took a back seat to the work required on the pitch when referee Ismail Elfath blew the opening whistle.
They opened up their hosts repeatedly, particularly in transition, and forced Brad Stuver to make nine saves on the night, several of them top-shelf stops.
“We had a difficult game, difficult opponent.
The night encapsulated Austin’s start to life in MLS – ambition, promise and the nagging frustration of breakthroughs yet to be made.
“The energy that our players felt and received was incredible,” said Wolff.