Austin FC has stunned everybody.
And within the course of, it arguably had one of the best week of the common season in membership historical past.
4 days after opening the Leagues Cup with a , the Verde & Black gained their group Tuesday night time because of a 2-0 choice over CF Monterrey at Q2 Stadium.
Few gave Austin FC an opportunity to advance, not to mention win the group, when it was initially positioned with the 2 Liga MX powers, however the Verde & Black can be within the knockout stage of the competitors in some unspecified time in the future subsequent week, with Wednesday being the most probably date.
Jáder Obrian and Dani Pereira scored for Austin FC, which recorded its sixth shutout of the season.
Listed below are some ideas from the match as Austin FC will wait to see whether or not it travels to LAFC or Vancouver or hosts Membership Tijuana within the spherical of 32 relying on that group’s remaining standings following Saturday’s recreation between the Whitecaps and Membership Tijuana:
Austin FC’s win was no fluke
It doesn’t matter that Monterrey left just a few of its higher gamers on the bench for 70 minutes — the Verde & Black additionally performed with out one in all their high stars in midfielder and designated participant Osman Bukari — this was one other large consequence for Austin FC, with the Mexican aspect being one of many higher golf equipment in all of North America.
It is also one which was deserved.
The Verde & Black have been good in that they performed a extra defensive model and didn’t attempt to get in an up-and-down contest with a staff that is excellent on the ball. Additionally they made virtually no errors on protection, persevering with a season-long development of the again line being very robust. New proper again Mikkel Desler was as soon as once more excellent and gutted-out 70 minutes taking part in in presumably the most popular circumstances of his profession. (He beforehand performed in Denmark and France.)
Heart again Brendan Hines-Ike continued to show he is perhaps the steal of the MLS offseason, whereas left again Guilherme Biro and middle backs Matt Hedges, Julio Cascante and Leo Väisänen have been stable. Goalie Brad Stuver returned after lacking Friday’s recreation on account of sickness and made a number of key saves.
And the again line, which saved Austin FC within the playoff race the primary 5 months of the MLS season, has spurred it to advance on this competitors with its play over the past 5 days.
Man of the match: Jon Gallagher
Beginning his second straight recreation at left-side winger, Gallagher was once more one of many higher gamers on the sector.
Taking a nifty move from Sebastián Driussi, he keyed Austin FC’s first purpose early within the second half when he sprinted down the left aspect and despatched in an ideal cross to Obrian. Then with the Verde & Black making a number of subs within the remaining 25 minutes, he performed each left again and proper again to complete out the sport.
It’s laborious to think about there’s a participant who’s extra versatile within the MLS than Gallagher, and it’s one other main cause why Austin FC is transferring on to the knockout spherical.
Midfield continues to shine
As famous , Austin FC all of a sudden has an excellent midfield. That confirmed Tuesday even with Bukari’s absence.
Except for Gallagher, Pereira, Driussi and Alex Ring have been all wonderful, with Obrian additionally delivering a stout efficiency that included out-sprinting Monterrey defenders down the sector for his purpose. Pereira’s scientific end on a one-on-one with Monterrey goalie Esteban Andrada within the eightieth minute secured the Verde & Black win.
Bukari will return for the spherical of 32 recreation to provide Austin FC coach Josh Wolff loads of choices for harmful mixtures.
Backside line: For Austin FC, mission achieved
Leagues Cup is already successful for Austin FC. The Verde & Black are the shock of the match and would be the speak of the competitors’s media protection for the following couple of days. However advancing within the competitors is extra necessary than merely qualifying for the knockout spherical.
Austin FC avoids a 24-day layoff — its subsequent MLS recreation is on Aug. 24 — and will get at the least another probability for Bukari, Desler and new middle again Oleksandr Svatok to jell with the remainder of the roster. Whether or not it loses within the spherical of 32 or makes a a lot deeper run, the remainder of the match is gravy for Austin FC. It’s already stunned everybody.
Spherical of 32 potentialities
For the knockout spherical, internet hosting is determined by a membership’s seed getting into the match and never whether or not it gained its group.
Austin FC is the thirty fifth seed within the match as seeding is predicated on final yr’s standings.
The membership’s destiny is determined by what occurs within the match between Vancouver and Membership Tijuana:
∙ If Vancouver wins in regulation or wins a shootout, the Verde & Black will journey to LAFC.
∙ If Vancouver loses in a shootout, Austin FC will journey to Vancouver.
∙ If Membership Tijuana wins in regulation, then Austin FC will host Membership Tijuana.
Austin FC participant rankings vs. FC Monterrey
(Gamers rated from 1-10 with 10 being the very best.)
Ahead: Gyasi Zardes 4.5
Midfield: Jon Gallagher 9.5, Alex Ring 8.5, Sebastián Driussi 8.5, Dani Pereira 9, Jáder Obrian 8.5
Protection: Guilherme Biro 6, Brendan Hines-Ike 9, Matt Hedges 7.5, Mikkel Desler 9.5
Goalie: Brad Stuver 9.5
Subs: Julio Cascante 8, Owen Wolff 7.5, Leo Väisänen 7, Jhojan Valencia 7, Diego Rubio 6.5
