Austin FC played a complete match against Puebla on Sunday, getting a hat trick from Myrto Uzuni and securing a shutout. While the knockout round is now a distinct possibility, Club América awaits for Thursday's huge match.
Looking to build upon momentum from its first Leagues Cup match of 2026, Austin FC jumped out early with a pair of Myrto Uzuni goals in the first eight minutes (en route to a hat trick), leading to a 3-0 win over Club Puebla on Sunday night at Q2 Stadium to move to the top of the MLS half of the tournament table.
Austin FC started out with only three changes from Thursday's starting lineup, with Facundo Torres, Christian Ramírez, and Owen Wolff starting instead of Mateja Đorđević, Brandon Vázquez, and Ilie Sánchez. Ervin Torres got another start in a switch to a 4-4-2 formation with fullbacks Joseph Rosales and Jon Gallagher in non-inverted spots.
It didn't take long for Uzuni to score — twice. His first came in the 4th minute on a free kick, bending it around the wall and just inside the post following Sergio Sanabria fouling Wolff. Then, in the 8th minute, Ramírez bore down on goal and then backheeled a pass to a trailing Uzuni for the clinical finish.
In the 34th minute, after winning a corner, Facundo Torres sent a long looping diagonal ball to an unmarked Uzuni — what ya doin', Puebla? — who volleyed in his third goal of the match. That was only the second hat trick in club history, though not as efficient as original hat-tricker Moussa Djitté, who scored three goals within 22 minutes of entering the 2022 match against Real Salt Lake to clinch Verde's first-ever playoff berth.
The first half had its share of physicality, with Puebla earning multiple yellow cards and making contact with Verde players throughout, including Sergio Sanabria, who was already on a yellow when he appeared to catch Besard Šabović in the eye with a stray elbow on a play in which Šabović was whistled for the foul — though Šabović was able to finish out the match.
Verde started the second half with Sánchez spelling Wolff, and again looked ready to resume its scoring ways. In the 53th minute, F-Torres hit a shot that went wide and thought there was a handball on the pass from Uzuni to Biro at the far post that got to him. The play went to video review but was not deemed worth of a penalty kick.
In the 62nd minute, interim head coach Davy Arnaud made a triple sub, getting on Jayden Nelson, Brendan Hines-Ike, and Przemysław Płacheta for Rosales, Oleksandr Svatok, and E-Torres.
Nelson showed some flashes with a couple of electric runs into the penalty area, including one resulting in a 77th-minute penalty kick that went for naught.
Brandon Vázquez came in for Ramírez in the 78th minute to get some reps, and then three minutes later, appeared to get his first goal of the season, only for Płacheta to be offside collecting the ball before his would-be assist.
Late on, Puebla looked the more likely side to score, but Verde was able to close out the shutout win.
Best Verde moment (that wasn’t a goal)
It's perhaps cheating because it's a moment that led directly to a goal, but that Ramírez backheel on Uzuni's second goal — which may not have even been the assist of the match, considering what F-Torres did — is now my favorite assist of the year.
Worst Verde moment (that wasn't a goal allowed)
Joseph Rosales committed a yellow card foul in the 28th minute. That's all I've got.
One thing you might have missed
Around the 29-minute mark, a Puebla player sent in a cross and Stuver made a basketball-worthy one-handed catch. (If there was only a hoop behind him so he could finish with a dunk.)
One nerdy tidbit
At the half, Verde had four shots on goal. Only one of those – Ramírez's 18-month shot — was saved.
Where this fits into the season's narrative
Is a 22-pound trophy in this club's future? With two wins in two Leagues Cup matches, it's conceivable that Verde could be one of four teams to advance from the MLS throng, though they have a tricky match against Club América on Thursday to test them. (And then, should that go well, they'll face one of the four sides emerging from Liga MX when the tournament resumes.)
A question we have heading into the press conference
What is this formation? And fullbacks not playing inverted? I'll have to ask, because I'm puzzled, but delighted.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
Austin FC has now played four matches implementing Davy Arnaud's new style. While the league matches don't show much statistical movement, Verde's most recent match provides some encouragement.
For one night, the newly instituted inverted wingback system appeared to work well for Austin FC. In winning, the team improved its chances for making a Leagues Cup run.
It was a good night for inverted wingbacks, as Austin FC got its two goals from players still growing accustomed to their new roles. The win leaves Verde in good position in Leagues Cup.
Myrto Uzuni sees Leagues Cup as an opportunity to show how Austin FC can play. Interim head coach Davy Arnaud looks for his team to further master a new style of play.
Looking to build upon momentum from its first Leagues Cup match of 2026, Austin FC jumped out early with a pair of Myrto Uzuni goals in the first eight minutes (en route to a hat trick), leading to a 3-0 win over Club Puebla on Sunday night at Q2 Stadium to move to the top of the MLS half of the tournament table.
Austin FC started out with only three changes from Thursday's starting lineup, with Facundo Torres, Christian Ramírez, and Owen Wolff starting instead of Mateja Đorđević, Brandon Vázquez, and Ilie Sánchez. Ervin Torres got another start in a switch to a 4-4-2 formation with fullbacks Joseph Rosales and Jon Gallagher in non-inverted spots.
It didn't take long for Uzuni to score — twice. His first came in the 4th minute on a free kick, bending it around the wall and just inside the post following Sergio Sanabria fouling Wolff. Then, in the 8th minute, Ramírez bore down on goal and then backheeled a pass to a trailing Uzuni for the clinical finish.
In the 34th minute, after winning a corner, Facundo Torres sent a long looping diagonal ball to an unmarked Uzuni — what ya doin', Puebla? — who volleyed in his third goal of the match. That was only the second hat trick in club history, though not as efficient as original hat-tricker Moussa Djitté, who scored three goals within 22 minutes of entering the 2022 match against Real Salt Lake to clinch Verde's first-ever playoff berth.
The first half had its share of physicality, with Puebla earning multiple yellow cards and making contact with Verde players throughout, including Sergio Sanabria, who was already on a yellow when he appeared to catch Besard Šabović in the eye with a stray elbow on a play in which Šabović was whistled for the foul — though Šabović was able to finish out the match.
Verde started the second half with Sánchez spelling Wolff, and again looked ready to resume its scoring ways. In the 53th minute, F-Torres hit a shot that went wide and thought there was a handball on the pass from Uzuni to Biro at the far post that got to him. The play went to video review but was not deemed worth of a penalty kick.
In the 62nd minute, interim head coach Davy Arnaud made a triple sub, getting on Jayden Nelson, Brendan Hines-Ike, and Przemysław Płacheta for Rosales, Oleksandr Svatok, and E-Torres.
Nelson showed some flashes with a couple of electric runs into the penalty area, including one resulting in a 77th-minute penalty kick that went for naught.
Brandon Vázquez came in for Ramírez in the 78th minute to get some reps, and then three minutes later, appeared to get his first goal of the season, only for Płacheta to be offside collecting the ball before his would-be assist.
Late on, Puebla looked the more likely side to score, but Verde was able to close out the shutout win.
Best Verde moment (that wasn’t a goal)
It's perhaps cheating because it's a moment that led directly to a goal, but that Ramírez backheel on Uzuni's second goal — which may not have even been the assist of the match, considering what F-Torres did — is now my favorite assist of the year.
Worst Verde moment (that wasn't a goal allowed)
Joseph Rosales committed a yellow card foul in the 28th minute. That's all I've got.
One thing you might have missed
Around the 29-minute mark, a Puebla player sent in a cross and Stuver made a basketball-worthy one-handed catch. (If there was only a hoop behind him so he could finish with a dunk.)
One nerdy tidbit
At the half, Verde had four shots on goal. Only one of those – Ramírez's 18-month shot — was saved.
Where this fits into the season's narrative
Is a 22-pound trophy in this club's future? With two wins in two Leagues Cup matches, it's conceivable that Verde could be one of four teams to advance from the MLS throng, though they have a tricky match against Club América on Thursday to test them. (And then, should that go well, they'll face one of the four sides emerging from Liga MX when the tournament resumes.)
A question we have heading into the press conference
What is this formation? And fullbacks not playing inverted? I'll have to ask, because I'm puzzled, but delighted.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
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