Houston Dynamo 1-2 Austin FC: Player ratings as Driussi strengthens his MVP bid

Austin FC continued their brilliant start to the 2022 season with a 2-1 comeback win away at Texas rivals Houston Dynamo.

The Verde and Black came into this match with 17 points from their first eight games, losing just once.

But Austin fell behind within six minutes as Dynamo striker Sebastian Fereira scored a sensational goal from the halfway line, catching Brad Stuver off his line after a poor clearance from the goalkeeper. Stuver picked up an injury for his efforts to keep the ball out and had to be stretchered off the field.

But the visitors quickly got a foothold and after missing a number of chances, finally drew level as Daniel Pereira volleyed home his first-ever professional goal at the back post from an Ethan Finlay cross on 39 minutes.

Austin kept coming and in the 66th minute, breached Houston again with the sensational Sebastian Driussi's curling effort beating Steve Clark and sealing all three points.

It's the second time in a week that Houston have lost to a Texas rival, while Austin go top of the west and a point above LAFC, who play Minnesota United on Sunday.

Read on for full player ratings from another entertaining Texas derby:

1. Houston Dynamo (4-2-3-1)

Steve Clark (GK) - 6/10 - Should have done better for the equalizer but kept Houston in the game with a few important saves.

Griffin Dorsey (RB) - 4/10 - Needed help from a midfielder, but played his part in allowing Pereira to run free at the back post to score. Didn't affect the game enough in attack.

Tim Parker (CB) - 5/10 - Missed Finlay's cross for Pereira's goal and was sloppy on the ball at times.

Teenage Hadebe (CB) - 5/10 - Made a few important blocks and interceptions, but a yellow card early in the second half limited his ability to truly challenge Austin forwards.

Adam Lundqvist (LB) - 6/10 - Much more effective in attack than Dorsey on the other wing, though this still wasn't his best game.

Memo Rodriguez (CM) - 6/10 - Showed flashes of quality and excitement when he got the ball but just didn't get into the game enough to have a real effect.

Adalberto Carrasquilla (CM) - 7/10 - Battled hard in midfield and tried to get Houston up the pitch whenever he could.

Darwin Quintero (CAM) - 6/10 - His direct running caused Austin a few worries, but Quintero unusually lacked end product.

Tyler Pasher (RW) - 4/10 - A pretty poor, quiet performance aside from a couple of dangerous balls.

Sebastian Ferreira (ST) - 7/10 - Ignited the game early with a wonderstrike and was neat and tidy with his link-up play. Wasn't given anywhere near enough service.

Fafa Picault (LW) - 6/10 - Like Quintero, Picault put plenty of fear into the Austin backline with his driving runs, but couldn't come up with the goods once he got into dangerous areas.

SUB: Corey Baird (65' for Pasher) - 6/10 - Put in a couple of decent balls and provided a better threat than Pasher.

SUB: Darwin Ceren (65' for Quintero) - 7/10 - Looked dangerous and creative from the bench, despite being unable to turn the tide.

SUB: Thiago Rodrigues (77' for Picault) - 3/10 - Completely ineffective.

SUB: Thorleifur Ulfarsson (77' for Rodriguez) - 3/10 - Got into some dangerous positions but missed a couple of vital chances to equalize.

SUB: Zeca (for Dorsey (77' for Griffin Dorsey) - 5/10 - Neat and tidy but not a game-changing substitute.

2. Austin FC (4-2-3-1)

Brad Stuver (GK) - 1/10 - Hit himself in the face with the ball, put it into his own goal, and had to be stretchered off after being caught out by Ferreira. As six-minute appearances go, this was a bad one.

Nick Lima (RB) - 7/10 - Had to work hard to stop the threat of Picault but did well. Clean and tidy on the ball, too.

Julio Cascante (CB) - 8/10 - Got through some routine defending and was a joy to watch on the ball.

Ruben Gabrielsen (CB) - 8/10 - Very similar to his center-back partner. An impressive duo.

Jon Gallagher (LB) - 7/10 - More advanced than Lima but still did his bit defensively.

Alex Ring (CM) - 6/10 - Delivered a few dangerous set-pieces but seemed a yard behind in open play. Not his best game by any stretch.

Daniel Pereira (CM) - 9/10 - Spread the play nicely and made a lot of late runs into the box, one of which was deservedly rewarded with a goal - his first as a professional.

Ethan Finlay (RW) - 8/10 - Provided the assist for the equalizer, completed 100% of his passes, and put in another marathon's worth of effort.

Sebastian Driussi (CAM) - 8/10 - By his own standards, Driussi had a quiet afternoon. But he still managed to curl the winning goal into the far corner. The early Golden Boot and MVP frontrunner.

Diego Fagundez (LW) - 8/10 - Was a menace down Austin's left, putting in cross after cross and driving directly at defenders.

Maxi Urruti (ST) - 5/10 - Missed a couple of decent chances and was nowhere near as sharp as usual.

SUB: Andrew Tarbell (9' for Stuver) - 8/10 - Made some important saves and looked alert considering he wouldn't have expected to play.

SUB: Felipe Martins (66' for Finlay) - 7/10 - Came in and slowed the pace of the game to help Austin see it out.

SUB: Danny Hoesen (66' for Urruti) - 5/10 - A quiet cameo from the Dutchman.

SUB: Jhojan Valencia (75' for Pereira) - 5/10 - Didn't change the game.

SUB: Owen Wolff (75' for Ring) - 6/10 - Neat and tidy but didn't get too involved.