Austin FC has been one of the best performers in the MLS of late. Having reached the semi-finals in 2022, they are once again fighting for a place in the playoffs this season. Owen Wolff and Sebastián Driussi are the key players in their squad.
Austin FC are a major player in the MLS and are dreaming big for the next Leagues Cup edition, which kicks off on July 21. The Oaks are part of the Group South 1, along with the Mexican teams Mazatlán and FC Juárez. The first match will be at home against the team from **Sinaloa**, on the opening night of the competition, at the **Q2 Stadium**.
How are Austin FC looking, going into their Leagues Cup games?
The team managed by Josh Wolff had an impressive MLS 2022 campaign, making it all the way to the semi-finals in the Playoffs. They would be knocked out by Los Angeles FC, who later became champions after beating the Philadelphia Union in the final.
This season, The Oaks are fighting to become one of the seven teams who will make it to the knockout phase of the championship. After 21 games, they currently find themselves in 5th place in the Western Conference, with nine wins, five draws, and nine defeats.
A big part of their hopes of going far in this year’s Leagues Cup lie in the feet of one of their stars in Sebastián Driussi, as well as their young prospect Owen Wolff.
Sebastián Driussi: from South America and Europe to dreaming big in Austin
The 27-year-old Sebastián Driussi first emerged from the youth academy of River Plate in Argentina. He made 74 appearances for Los Millonarios, scoring 38 goals and providing 12 assists. Now captain of The Oaks, he was a member of his country's U-15, U-17 and U-20 teams. After winning eight titles with the club where he took his first steps as a professional, the striker moved to Russia to play for Zenit St. Petersburg.
Once on European soil, the player was one of the pillars of his team in the four seasons he was there, with 138 matches, 25 goals and 22 assists. He made the move to Austin in 2021. Earlier this year, the team decided to renew his contract for another three years, with an option for one more.
Owen Wolff, a youth academy product who’s dreaming big
At just 18 years of age, Owen Wolff promises to make his mark on soccer both in the United States and on the international stage. Born in the city of Snellville (Georgia), he stands out in The Oaks’ midfield. Despite being two years below the age limit, the central midfielder was part of the U-20 team that represented his country at the World Cup in Argentina this summer.
Owen joined the Austin academy in early 2021, and in less than a year established himself in the first team. He has already played 47 MLS games, scoring one goal. His style of play revolves around winning the ball back up and down the pitch, and being the catalyst for attacks with the first pass. Undoubtedly, Owen will seek to strengthen his international profile in action at Leagues Cup, which will begin its 2023 edition on July 21, 2023.
