Austin clinches 1st playoff berth, beats Real Salt Lake 3-0

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Austin clinched its first playoff berth, beating Actual Salt Lake 3-0 Wednesday evening as Moussa Djitte scored his first profession hat trick, all within the second half.

Austin (16-9-6), which began play in 2021, turned the second Western Convention crew to clinch a berth this season after first-place Los Angeles FC.

Djitte scored within the sixtieth minute, operating onto Diego Fagundez’s diagonal go and flicking the ball over goalkeeper Zac MacMath from simply contained in the 6-yard field.

Djitte doubled the lead within the 76th with an 8-yard right-foot shot after Ethan Finlay’s try rebounded off the crossbar, then added one other on a counterattack within the eightieth from Ruben Gabrielsen’s go.

The Senegalese ahead, who turns 23 subsequent month, had scored one earlier objective this season, towards Orlando on Could 22. He joined Main League Soccer after spending 2018-19 with Sion in Switzerland and 2019-21 with Grenoble within the French second tier.

Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver made six saves.

The groups play once more Saturday. Austin hosts Nashville, whereas RSL (11-10-10) hosts Cincinnati.