Austin FC started off its fifth season like it did its second — in unseasonably cold conditions in a home opener, facing a Midwestern team undergoing significant transition.
And as they did in 2022, Austin FC won – though less decisively, getting an 1-0 win on Saturday night at Q2 Stadium over Sporting Kansas City on the strength of an Osman Bukari goal that was more right place, right time (or, rather, right face, right time) than art.
Verde went possession-heavy in the first stages of the game, and both teams largely stayed tentative for the first 15 minutes before Verde began pushing upfield a bit, with Guillermo Biro missing just wide on an 18th-minute header on a promising breakaway, and Owen Wolff getting even closer on a 21st-minute shot from distance.
Osman Bukari also had one adventure, going half the width of the field to escape one of a number of double-teams he faced in that half, getting a relatively soft shot from too far out in the 27th minute.
Dani Pereira nearly got a goal within two minutes of the restart, skying a ball that Vázquez did his best to tee up for him, but then the match got into a more-cards-than-shots phase.
In the 65th, Vázquez went on a break and very nearly engineered an own goal with a pass across the goalmouth, showing some signs of life.
While Peter Vermes rolled out his two biggest offseason acquisitions to start the second half — Dejan Joveljić for Willy Agada and Manu Garcia for Jacob Bartlett — head coach Nico Estévez didn't use a sub until Jon Gallagher came in for Jáder Obrian in the 72nd.
But on a corner kick from Wolff in the 78th minute, a ball careened off Julio Cascante's shoulder – certainly not his arm – and into Bukari's face. (However you can get it, right?)
Vázquez nearly doubled the lead in the 82nd minute with a shot that caromed off the corner of the goal frame.
In stoppage time, we got one moment of mirth, when Joveljić put his hands up to stop a ball going out of bounds, and referee Chris Penso conveniently forgot that hands aren't allowed in soccer. That got some meme-able reactions from Verde players and Estévez, but it was essentially the last action of the match .
Best Verde moment (that wasn’t a goal)
I'm really glad Brad Stuver is part of this team. Daniel Salloi got past the Verde defense in the 37th minute to get off an attempt, but Stuver got a leg save to it, and Agada hit a supporter in the fifth row on the rebound shot.
Also, honorable mention to Mikkel Desler for taking the ball off the foot of a goalbound Joveljić with the game still very much in balance.
Worst Verde moment (that wasn't a goal allowed)
The Pereira miss was a great opportunity to take the lead. It ultimately didn't affect the outcome, but made the second half considerably more tense.
Something you might have missed
Yes, at one point during the first-half (relative) flurry in front of goal, Brandon Vázquez attempted to touch a ball heading an odd angle across the goalmouth via a scorpion kick. (Didn't connect; would've been cooler if it did.)
How this match fits into the season’s narrative
Verde was one for four in season openers prior to Saturday night, and the one they won happened in 2022, kicking off their best season ever. A win in 2025 might not set Verde on the same trajectory it did in 2022 – 1-0 is not 5-0, after all – but it's three points more than Verde had after one match each of the last two seasons.
One nerdy tidbit
It took SKC up to the 30th minute to get off its first shot, though Verde failed to get off a shot in the final 18 minutes of the first half.
A question we have heading into the press conference
We're honestly curious to get a baseline assessment from Estévez on where the team is. While they has some encourage surges forward, especially in the first half, finishing is still an early worry ... and the reticence to put in subs is bringing back some concerning flashbacks to the previous era. But, also, nice to see a win!
(And we can't resist asking about the exchange with Penso at the end.)
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. You can comment here if you’re a subscriber, or reach out via Bluesky.
Austin FC started off its fifth season like it did its second — in unseasonably cold conditions in a home opener, facing a Midwestern team undergoing significant transition.
And as they did in 2022, Austin FC won – though less decisively, getting an 1-0 win on Saturday night at Q2 Stadium over Sporting Kansas City on the strength of an Osman Bukari goal that was more right place, right time (or, rather, right face, right time) than art.
Verde went possession-heavy in the first stages of the game, and both teams largely stayed tentative for the first 15 minutes before Verde began pushing upfield a bit, with Guillermo Biro missing just wide on an 18th-minute header on a promising breakaway, and Owen Wolff getting even closer on a 21st-minute shot from distance.
Osman Bukari also had one adventure, going half the width of the field to escape one of a number of double-teams he faced in that half, getting a relatively soft shot from too far out in the 27th minute.
Dani Pereira nearly got a goal within two minutes of the restart, skying a ball that Vázquez did his best to tee up for him, but then the match got into a more-cards-than-shots phase.
In the 65th, Vázquez went on a break and very nearly engineered an own goal with a pass across the goalmouth, showing some signs of life.
While Peter Vermes rolled out his two biggest offseason acquisitions to start the second half — Dejan Joveljić for Willy Agada and Manu Garcia for Jacob Bartlett — head coach Nico Estévez didn't use a sub until Jon Gallagher came in for Jáder Obrian in the 72nd.
But on a corner kick from Wolff in the 78th minute, a ball careened off Julio Cascante's shoulder – certainly not his arm – and into Bukari's face. (However you can get it, right?)
Vázquez nearly doubled the lead in the 82nd minute with a shot that caromed off the corner of the goal frame.
In stoppage time, we got one moment of mirth, when Joveljić put his hands up to stop a ball going out of bounds, and referee Chris Penso conveniently forgot that hands aren't allowed in soccer. That got some meme-able reactions from Verde players and Estévez, but it was essentially the last action of the match .
Best Verde moment (that wasn’t a goal)
I'm really glad Brad Stuver is part of this team. Daniel Salloi got past the Verde defense in the 37th minute to get off an attempt, but Stuver got a leg save to it, and Agada hit a supporter in the fifth row on the rebound shot.
Also, honorable mention to Mikkel Desler for taking the ball off the foot of a goalbound Joveljić with the game still very much in balance.
Worst Verde moment (that wasn't a goal allowed)
The Pereira miss was a great opportunity to take the lead. It ultimately didn't affect the outcome, but made the second half considerably more tense.
Something you might have missed
Yes, at one point during the first-half (relative) flurry in front of goal, Brandon Vázquez attempted to touch a ball heading an odd angle across the goalmouth via a scorpion kick. (Didn't connect; would've been cooler if it did.)
How this match fits into the season’s narrative
Verde was one for four in season openers prior to Saturday night, and the one they won happened in 2022, kicking off their best season ever. A win in 2025 might not set Verde on the same trajectory it did in 2022 – 1-0 is not 5-0, after all – but it's three points more than Verde had after one match each of the last two seasons.
One nerdy tidbit
It took SKC up to the 30th minute to get off its first shot, though Verde failed to get off a shot in the final 18 minutes of the first half.
A question we have heading into the press conference
We're honestly curious to get a baseline assessment from Estévez on where the team is. While they has some encourage surges forward, especially in the first half, finishing is still an early worry ... and the reticence to put in subs is bringing back some concerning flashbacks to the previous era. But, also, nice to see a win!
(And we can't resist asking about the exchange with Penso at the end.)
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. You can comment here if you’re a subscriber, or reach out via Bluesky.
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