The Fall 2023 version of Austin FC II is bringing joy, belief, and a playoff run to fans who would be lacking all of that were they to rely entirely on the first team for it.
While Austin FC is reading for a largely meaningless match next weekend to close out a disappointing season, Austin FC II will be preparing for a final, thanks to Damian Las’ heroics to close out a historic run through the Western Conference playoffs on Sunday night.
With the 4-1 penalty shootout win over Colorado Rapids 2, coming after 120 minutes of tense but ultimately futile 0-0 soccer, Austin FC II’s done something amazing in getting to the final.
Thanks to Sporting Kansas City II hand-picking VerDos in the first round, VerDos beat the No. 3, No. 2, and No. 1 seeds in succession, all on the road, to get to the final against Columbus Crew 2.
Oh, and it’s a final against Austin FC’s original rivals, born of the torturous, City Council-meeting-filled quest to get the new Austin franchise freed from the Crew’s orbit, and made possible by the league developing a win-win solution that saved the Crew while allowing Precourt to grow the legend in the capital of Texas.
