Three takeaways from Austin FC’s season-opening loss to Minnesota United – CAPITAL CITY SOCCER
After an offseason of anticipation for Austin FC’s season opener against Minnesota United, the Verde and Black failed to address a lot of questions and concerns surrounding the quality of the squad in the 2-1 loss at Q2 Stadium Saturday night.
While it was a night of frustration for many fans of the club, it’s hard to say that the loss and the lack of coherency in the attack was much of a surprise. Still, there are plenty of takeaways good and bad, to be had from the home opener.
While the club has fluctuated from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in MLS play since its inaugural season in 2021, it seems the one guarantee in an Austin FC home match is that the fans will do their part, as they did with their 49th consecutive sellout crowd Saturday night.
The atmosphere of a season opener will always have a bit more excitement, and that was evident inside of Q2 Stadium on Saturday. Thanks to the gate giveaway of light-up crowdsync bracelets, each fan in the stadium had access to their own Verde lights, which would light up at certain times both pregame and during the game — like during the Heartbeat of Austin and after Guilherme Biro’s last-minute goal. While a small touch, it made the atmosphere a bit more unique. Had the Verde scored more (or won!) I imagine it would’ve been fun to see each fan’s wrist light up green as they celebrated.
Although many fans were headed for or had already passed through the exits, by the time Los Verdes had their breakthrough, it was nice to see the fans get fired up, tossing confetti and showering the supporter’s section after 94 minutes and a whole offseason of waiting for the first Austin FC goal of 2024.
Former Austin FC striker Will Bruin begged the question: “ATX has some of the best home atmospheres in the league, I don’t get how they are always playing from behind” on Twitter/X during the game. Bruin’s question must be one that hundreds of fans must ask themselves each matchday. While the Verde and Black couldn’t get the result they wanted Saturday, it certainly wasn’t for lack of support.
As captain Sebastian Driussi, who was scratched from the lineup due to a hamstring injury, implied to Rincon Verde in a postgame interview, the first half of the match was essentially wasted. Frustrated, Driussi stated “45 minutes were given, and then obviously a little character was shown, but it was not enough. It is the beginning but, in front of our fans, we cannot give this image.”
Austin FC managed just three shots and one shot on goal in the first half, while Minnesota unloaded everything at Brad Stuver and the Austin defense. The Loons had 14 total shots, seven of which were on goal, and had a whopping 11 corner kicks in the first 45 alone. Stuver was the sole reason Austin was even in the game in the second half, as his six saves and Minnesota’s 2.05 first-half xG per FotMob suggest that the Verde and Black were fortunate to only be down one goal headed into halftime.
It’s the same kind of start that plagued Austin FC last year, as they simply fell flat every time they were forced to mount a comeback in the 2023 campaign. Last season, the ATX failed to win an MLS game in which they conceded first, drawing five and losing 14 of the 19 matches in which they had to play from behind. Unless Austin can rediscover the comeback recipe that made them so dangerous in 2022, they simply cannot afford to have a first half performance like Saturday’s and expect to win.
The second half brought a lot more on the attacking end.
Watch every Austin FC match in 2024 on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.
During the dog days of the MLS offseason, the hype surrounding Rodolfo Borrell’s first offseason as sporting director for Austin FC was one of the only things keeping fans of the club optimistic, yet many were underwhelmed with the amount of signings and talent the former Manchester City assistant coach brought in.
Nonetheless, the three new signees that made their Austin FC debuts on Saturday brought, if nothing else, some sparks of legitimate quality and potential.
Both Jader Obrian and Diego Rubio were names that several fans of the Verde and Black hoped and expected to see in the starting eleven Saturday evening, as the pair’s three goals each in preseason led the team. Still, head coach Josh Wolff elected to keep the two on the bench until the 58th minute.
Both nearly got their names on the scoresheet, as a better placed pass from Emiliano Rigoni in a 3 vs 2 attack in the 73rd minute may have allowed Obrian to slot a shot past Dayne St. Clair and equalize. However, as was the case with the majority of their chances in the match, Austin failed to get the ball in a favorable position and put a high-percentage shot on goal.
Rubio nearly got on the end of a cross in front of goal as well, but couldn’t extend his right foot far enough to poke in his first MLS goal for Austin.
While both Obrian and Rubio nearly found the net, it was Austin’s third and most unexpected debutant who did. Guilherme Biro, a defender who has only been routinely practicing with the team for a few weeks, controlled a well-placed pass from Owen Wolff and blasted a left-footed shot into the center of the net for Austin’s first goal of the season.
It was far little and far too late, but it’s encouraging to see the spark of energy and impressive finishing ability Biro displayed. Fullback was one of Austin’s stronger positions last season, but Biro’s performance suggests he should be a legitimate contender for a spot in the Verde’s starting eleven soon.
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The majority of Austin FC’s performance in their 2024 season opener suggests that they may face an uphill battle if they want to legitimately compete in the MLS this season, but there were flashes of lasting quality both in the stands and on the pitch Saturday night.
The club will hope to build on the sparks of excellence and shake off the early-season rust as they travel to Seattle to take on the Sounders at Lumen Field on Saturday, March 2 at 9:30 p.m.
Cover image courtesy Apple TV
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