The 2023 MLS debut for Austin FC ended in a 3-2 loss to St. Louis CITY SC at Q2 Stadium. For the sixth straight home game, Sebastián Driussi tallied, and Jon Gallagher added Austin's second.

Tim Parker gave St. Louis the advantage in the 24th minute by heading in a corner kick by Eduard Löwen.

At the eleventh hour, the Green & Black mounted a comeback. Driussi tied the game with a brilliant chip shot over St. Louis goalie Roman Bürki after receiving a long pass from Leo Väisänen.

After a scoreless first half, Austin came out strong in the second, and Gallagher scored in the 72nd minute to give the home team the lead. Gallagher, who had only recently entered the game, took a cross from Diego Fagundez and hit a low, precise shot that went in off the far post.

Six minutes later, however, the guests tied the game on their own thanks to Jared Stroud. In the 86th minute, St. Louis' Joo Klauss tallied the game-winning goal. In added time, Austin had a shot strike the crossbar, yet they nevertheless failed to equalize the score by the full 90.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Dee Rosa]