Austin FC, minus an injured Sebastián Driussi, endured a miserable first half en route to a 2-1 loss against Minnesota United FC on Saturday night.
Robin Lod got the initial 34th-minute goal after Brad Stuver made some heroic first-half saves to keep it level.
New acquisitions Jader Obrian and Diego Rubio brought needed spark off the bench at about the hour mark and nearly connected during one angst-filled moment. But it was Minnesota getting a stoppage-time goal from Alejandro Bran, initially flagged as offisde before it was ruled good via VAR.
Newcomer Guilherme Biro got a late goal that was too little, too late, assisted by Owen Wolff. But it’s the second straight season Verde’s dropped the home opener against an opponent fans felt confident they could handle — given that the Loons were missing star creator Emanuel Reynoso and is currently in interim coach limbo.
