The new streaming rights partnership between Austin-based FloSports and FC Cincinnati, first reported by the American-Statesman on Monday, caused quite the stir among Major League Soccer fans and media.

Timing is everything, and in this case issues with FloSports’ inaugural MLS stream of the D.C. United versus New York City FC match Sunday were cause for much of the ire. Some fans in the Washington, D.C. area were unable to access the stream during the first half and the team’s leadership released a statement saying they were “extremely disappointed.” Pablo Maurer wrote about the issues in more detail for The Athletic.

For FloSports, an over-the-top sports media company, the D.C. United match was a poor start to what it hopes will be a long-term relationship with MLS.

In an interview with the Statesman last week, FloSports vice president for global rights acquisition Mike Levy said the company saw an opportunity to go major league when it began conversations with MLS in 2018.

It launched a new vertical — its 25th — called FloFC earlier this year. The service is advertised as a source for news as much as live events. As part of the agreements with D.C. United and FC Cincinnati, FloSports is committing resources to provide storytelling and analysis, and it has at least one full-time producer based at Audi Field.

“It’s not hard to put out a live sporting event anymore,” Levy said last week. “Hundreds of companies are capable of producing and distributing live sports. The hard part is capturing communities. That takes a lot of resources, time and authenticity. That’s where we believe we can make a difference.”

When things go awry with a live stream as they did on Sunday, it’s going to get attention. Levy acknowledged last week that there would be a feeling-out period with soccer fans and that “it might take a season, and that’s OK.”

FloSports co-founder Mark Floreani said during a South by Southwest panel on Friday that “it’s our early days with MLS,” and Levy told the Statesman that the company hopes to be in play for Austin FC local rights in 2021 as well as a national rights package. MLS is barreling toward its next media rights negotiations in 2022.

“We have big eyes,” Levy said. “We don’t believe that there’s any reason why, given the growth we’ve seen over the last year or two and the success we expect to have on these local rights deals, that in 2022 there’s any reason why FloSports isn’t a legitimate player for national rights.”

Free soccer: Austin Bold FC drew 0-0 against Las Vegas Lights FC in its USL Championship debut on Saturday. The result meant that the 8,017 fans at Cashman Field will get to attend the Lights’ next home match for free, as owner Brett Lashbrook guaranteed a win over the Bold.

Austin had the best scoring chance of the game in the 31st minute, when center back Amobi Okugo’s close-range shot was saved by Las Vegas goalkeeper Thomas Olsen.

The 28-year-old Okugo, who played the majority of his 10,698 MLS minutes in midfield, showed great awareness after a Darío Conca corner kick was cleared out of the penalty area. Sonny Guadarrama recovered the ball and passed quickly to Sean McFarlane, who was cutting from the right wing toward the end line. McFarlane looked up to find Okugo sprinting toward the near post.

Bold goalkeeper Diego Restrepo earned a clean sheet with three saves as he faced 18 total shots from the Lights. Austin joined New Mexico United as the only expansion teams to earn at least a point during the opening weekend. There are seven new clubs in the USL Championship this year.

Short handed: The draw was a good first result for the Bold, especially considering the changes coach Marcelo Serrano had to make to his lineup.

Midfielder Thomas de Villardi did well playing out of position at left back in place of Josué Soto. Soto suffered a knee injury in the team’s final scrimmage and is expected to be out another three to five weeks. Forward Promise Isaac, too, was held out with an injury.

Okugo finds himself at center back because Edson Braafheid remains unavailable indefinitely due to his immigration status. Midfielder Marcelo Saragosa, who is recovering from a knee injury, was also absent from the 18-player roster used by Serrano.

Two players, Valeri Saramutin and Jorge Troncoso, were ineligible because of delays with the international transfer process. They will be available for the Bold’s second game Saturday at Reno.

One player who could benefit from the short bench is 16-year-old Julian Gaines, an academy player who appeared in the 18 as an unused substitute in Vegas. The Round Rock High School sophomore is practicing full time with the Bold but will likely play some matches for Lonestar Soccer Club’s under-17 Development Academy squad.

MLS Player of the Week: This week the award went to Los Angeles FC forward Carlos Vela, who had a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win over Portland. I voted for Vela first with Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper Zack Steffen as my second choice.

What I watched: MLS teams got blasted by Liga MX opponents, with an aggregate score of 7-0 in three CONCACAF Champions League first legs. The lone remaining hope is Sporting Kansas City, which trails 2-1 to Panamanian club C.A. Independiente heading into the second leg on Thursday.

What I’m watching: I’ll glance across the pond Wednesday for UEFA Champions League Round of 16 action between Bayern Munich and Liverpool. The clubs tied 0-0 in the first leg.