- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 448,251
- Reaction score
- 44
Austin FC officially has the worst offense in the Western Conference.
Following a 3-0 loss to Minnesota United FC on Saturday at Q2 Stadium, when the Verde & Black were punchless for long stretches, Austin FC’s unspectacular seven goals on the season are one less than the Los Angeles Galaxy — a club that is winless and at the bottom of the standings — and St. Louis, which is in 12th place.
Only Eastern Conference club Montreal — which one can argue isn’t even attempting to field a competitive team — has scored fewer goals in MLS than Austin FC.
More: Austin FC coach Nico Estévez's journey is something the club hopes spurs it to success
Here are some thoughts on the match as Austin FC (5-5-1, 16 points) begins U.S. Open Cup play Wednesday when it hosts El Paso Locomotive FC in the round of 32:
Austin FC’s lack of goals would be noticeable for any club, but it’s highlighted by the fact that it’s presumably — the MLSPA will release salaries later this month — spending seven figures on forwards Brandon Vazquez, Myrto Uzuni and Osman Bukari.
The trio, who are also the club’s designated players, meaning most of their salary doesn’t count against the team’s cap, have a combined four goals.
And while Uzuni has missed two games due to joining the team late in training camp and being called up by the Albanian national team, it’s a glaring stat for a team that spent big in the offseason to upgrade the MLS’ third-worst offense in 2024. (Online publication Give Me Sport reported that Vazquez and Uzuni cost more than a combined $22 million in transfer fees.)
Austin FC coach Nico Estévez stuck up for his forwards in the postgame press conference, but the fact is they simply aren’t producing.
Vazquez was decent in the run of play Saturday, but the finishing of Uzuni and Bukari, which has been poor all year, was highlighted again in the first half. Both players had open chances, with Uzuni sending a shot in the box lacking in pace straight to Minnesota goalie Dayne St. Clair, while Bukari shanked an attempt from less than 12 yards out well wide of the goal.
A year ago, Austin FC scored 39 goals.
It’s currently on pace for 22 this season.
Common sense tells one that there’s almost no chance the Verde & Black will end with that few — only two clubs have scored less than 30 since 2017: Colorado and Toronto both tallied 26 in 2023 on the way to finishing last in their respective conferences — but they now have to score 32 goals in their final 23 games just to match last year.
Since a 1-0 win over St. Louis on March 30, Austin FC has scored one goal of consequence in five matches: Vazquez’s game-winner against the Galaxy. Not surprisingly, it's 1-3-1 in that stretch.
Estévez has continually noted integrating new players in an attack is a process and that the goals will eventually come.
He’s probably right, however, for Austin FC’s sake, with the club likely being underdogs in four of its remaining six league games this month, they need to come soon.
Austin FC goalie Brad Stuver tried to blame himself for the loss after the game, noting that his mistake that led to Minnesota’s first goal left Austin FC “chasing the game” and having to alter its game plan.
You’d expect nothing less from Stuver, who’s never shied away from talking to the media no matter the circumstances, but that’s not the story of this contest.
Sure, he made a blunder, as did center back Brendan Hines-Ike in losing a ball that eventually led to the Loons’ third goal, but the Austin FC defense was never going to keep up its torrid pace of posting five shutouts through the first nine games.
Center back Oleksandr Svatok was also slow to challenge a cross on Anthony Markanich’s header for Minnesota’s second goal.
It wasn’t a great night for the Verde & Black defense, but it’s a unit that is still tied for fourth in the West in goals allowed and one that has almost had to be perfect this season for the club to take three points.
After the preceding negativity, let’s take a glass half-full look at things.
Austin FC is in sixth place in the West with 16 points after 11 games despite an attack that hasn’t shown any signs of jelling and only having right back Mikkel Desler, who may arguably be the club’s best player, for three matches.
Desler may be able to return as a sub as soon as Saturday’s game at Cincinnati after missing the last two months with a hamstring injury, and it’s conceivable he could start again by the May 28 home game against Real Salt Lake.
New winger Robert Taylor made his club debut Saturday and played 30 minutes, which gives Estévez another attacking option going forward. Taylor didn’t do anything of note, but he didn’t look poor, either. (Estévez went with five forwards — Vazquez, Taylor, Jáder Obrian, CJ Fodrey and Diego Rubio — for the last 15 minutes of the match. It was a move that, even though it didn’t pay off, was smart and had Minnesota on its heels for a few moments.)
And Owen Wolff continues to have an excellent season in the midfield.
(Players rated 1-10 with 10 being the highest)
Forwards: Brandon Vazquez 6, Myrto Uzuni 4.5, Osman Bukari 4.5
Midfield: Owen Wolff 6.5, Ilie Sánchez 6, Besard Sabovic 5
Defense: Guilherme Biro 6.5, Oleksandr Svatok 4.5, Brendan Hines-Ike 4.5, Jon Gallagher 6.5
Goalie: Brad Stuver 4
Subs: Robert Taylor 5.5, Jáder Obrian 6, Diego Rubio 5.5, Zan Kolmanic 5, CJ Fodrey 5.5
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: MLS scores: 4 takeaways from Austin FC's 3-0 loss to Minnesota United
Continue reading...
Following a 3-0 loss to Minnesota United FC on Saturday at Q2 Stadium, when the Verde & Black were punchless for long stretches, Austin FC’s unspectacular seven goals on the season are one less than the Los Angeles Galaxy — a club that is winless and at the bottom of the standings — and St. Louis, which is in 12th place.
Only Eastern Conference club Montreal — which one can argue isn’t even attempting to field a competitive team — has scored fewer goals in MLS than Austin FC.
More: Austin FC coach Nico Estévez's journey is something the club hopes spurs it to success
Here are some thoughts on the match as Austin FC (5-5-1, 16 points) begins U.S. Open Cup play Wednesday when it hosts El Paso Locomotive FC in the round of 32:
Austin FC on a putrid pace for scoring
Austin FC’s lack of goals would be noticeable for any club, but it’s highlighted by the fact that it’s presumably — the MLSPA will release salaries later this month — spending seven figures on forwards Brandon Vazquez, Myrto Uzuni and Osman Bukari.
The trio, who are also the club’s designated players, meaning most of their salary doesn’t count against the team’s cap, have a combined four goals.
And while Uzuni has missed two games due to joining the team late in training camp and being called up by the Albanian national team, it’s a glaring stat for a team that spent big in the offseason to upgrade the MLS’ third-worst offense in 2024. (Online publication Give Me Sport reported that Vazquez and Uzuni cost more than a combined $22 million in transfer fees.)
Austin FC coach Nico Estévez stuck up for his forwards in the postgame press conference, but the fact is they simply aren’t producing.
Vazquez was decent in the run of play Saturday, but the finishing of Uzuni and Bukari, which has been poor all year, was highlighted again in the first half. Both players had open chances, with Uzuni sending a shot in the box lacking in pace straight to Minnesota goalie Dayne St. Clair, while Bukari shanked an attempt from less than 12 yards out well wide of the goal.
A year ago, Austin FC scored 39 goals.
It’s currently on pace for 22 this season.
Common sense tells one that there’s almost no chance the Verde & Black will end with that few — only two clubs have scored less than 30 since 2017: Colorado and Toronto both tallied 26 in 2023 on the way to finishing last in their respective conferences — but they now have to score 32 goals in their final 23 games just to match last year.
Since a 1-0 win over St. Louis on March 30, Austin FC has scored one goal of consequence in five matches: Vazquez’s game-winner against the Galaxy. Not surprisingly, it's 1-3-1 in that stretch.
Estévez has continually noted integrating new players in an attack is a process and that the goals will eventually come.
He’s probably right, however, for Austin FC’s sake, with the club likely being underdogs in four of its remaining six league games this month, they need to come soon.
Defense shaky
Austin FC goalie Brad Stuver tried to blame himself for the loss after the game, noting that his mistake that led to Minnesota’s first goal left Austin FC “chasing the game” and having to alter its game plan.
You’d expect nothing less from Stuver, who’s never shied away from talking to the media no matter the circumstances, but that’s not the story of this contest.
Sure, he made a blunder, as did center back Brendan Hines-Ike in losing a ball that eventually led to the Loons’ third goal, but the Austin FC defense was never going to keep up its torrid pace of posting five shutouts through the first nine games.
Center back Oleksandr Svatok was also slow to challenge a cross on Anthony Markanich’s header for Minnesota’s second goal.
It wasn’t a great night for the Verde & Black defense, but it’s a unit that is still tied for fourth in the West in goals allowed and one that has almost had to be perfect this season for the club to take three points.
On the bright side...
After the preceding negativity, let’s take a glass half-full look at things.
Austin FC is in sixth place in the West with 16 points after 11 games despite an attack that hasn’t shown any signs of jelling and only having right back Mikkel Desler, who may arguably be the club’s best player, for three matches.
Desler may be able to return as a sub as soon as Saturday’s game at Cincinnati after missing the last two months with a hamstring injury, and it’s conceivable he could start again by the May 28 home game against Real Salt Lake.
New winger Robert Taylor made his club debut Saturday and played 30 minutes, which gives Estévez another attacking option going forward. Taylor didn’t do anything of note, but he didn’t look poor, either. (Estévez went with five forwards — Vazquez, Taylor, Jáder Obrian, CJ Fodrey and Diego Rubio — for the last 15 minutes of the match. It was a move that, even though it didn’t pay off, was smart and had Minnesota on its heels for a few moments.)
And Owen Wolff continues to have an excellent season in the midfield.
Austin FC player ratings
(Players rated 1-10 with 10 being the highest)
Forwards: Brandon Vazquez 6, Myrto Uzuni 4.5, Osman Bukari 4.5
Midfield: Owen Wolff 6.5, Ilie Sánchez 6, Besard Sabovic 5
Defense: Guilherme Biro 6.5, Oleksandr Svatok 4.5, Brendan Hines-Ike 4.5, Jon Gallagher 6.5
Goalie: Brad Stuver 4
Subs: Robert Taylor 5.5, Jáder Obrian 6, Diego Rubio 5.5, Zan Kolmanic 5, CJ Fodrey 5.5
You must be registered for see images
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: MLS scores: 4 takeaways from Austin FC's 3-0 loss to Minnesota United
Continue reading...
