With Myrto Uzuni's hat trick performance leading Austin FC to a 3-0 victory over Puebla on Sunday, what was looking to be a big match for the club on Thursday just got even bigger.
Given this year's Leagues Cup format, which winnows 18 MLS teams and 18 Liga MX teams into a four-on-each-side quarterfinal bracket, it's likely that Verde will need a win against formidable Club América to advance. Other teams have an easier path to get from six to nine points, but with a win on Thursday, Verde would likely have the most compelling storyline going into the Aug. 25-27 commencement of the knockout rounds.
"It's a really big game," said Austin FC interim head coach Davy Arnaud, when I asked him about what's looming. "We know that it's against a massive club, so we knew it was going to be a big game already, but now being in the position that we're in, we're in position now to advance to the quarterfinals if we have a positive result on Thursday night
"You could feel it was already going to be a big game and a big atmosphere, but I think where we're at now it makes it probably bigger," he added. "And if we can get the result that we're that hoping to get, I think it can be a big night for the club."
