You’re likely aware that Austin FC lost a two-goal lead in the late stages last night to end up drawing LA Galaxy 3-3 Sunday night. But it really ended after 1:30 a.m. on Monday morning, with more than 2 ½ hours of weather delay pushing back an already-late 8:55 p.m. planned start time, and with media gathering quotes from Josh Wolff, Brad Stuver, and Diego Fagundez until 2:15 a.m. CT.
Here’s a roundup of the most pertinent quotes from after the match.
‘It's certainly a shot to the ego’
First, to the part where we talk to the manager. What can be said at this point?
My initial question to Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff was, “What is it going to take to win?” as Verde’s winless streak extends to nine matches, dating back to July 15.
Even before then, in an opening statement before Wolff took questions, he said, “I think it's a small snapshot of what we are and have been this year. I think, in moments, extremely good and very clinical and going in the attack, breaking the opposition. And then very insecure moments when we give up a goal or give up a chance, and it's two sides of the coin for us.
“It's something that obviously has cost us a lot of points at home and on the road, but I think it gives a lot of insight to tell who we are what we can be on both sides of it. There's no excuse for it. It’s 3-1, the game is in hand, and you know we should be moving on with a win.”
He noted that the Galaxy are a good team, good with the ball, and said, “The second half, I think, that's where the morale and the emotion hits us a little bit,” before comparing it to similar matches against Seattle and Dallas where their opponents strike late to change a result.
Responding to my question about Verde now dropping 13 points in nine different matches, when one or more opponents’ goals after the 70th minute of a match change its outcome, Wolff said, “There's games over the year where we grabbed points … we beat Montreal late in the game, we beat Toronto late in the game .. but every minute is important, obviously. They're going forward as they have to, and we have to be more resolute in certainly in how we're defending and more organized.”
Later, he noted, “We still have to defend. These other teams are good, we have to obviously deal with certain situations much better, know what the game looks like as they're taking chances. Yeah, it's certainly a shot to the ego … you know, the guys are disappointed, I think fans are disappointed, staff is disappointed. We put a lot into what we expected this game to look like and be and the players carry that out by and large. It’s still about making plays and finishing, it’s 90 minutes and then some and we say that often.”
He then added, “There are dropped points late and those things affect you. There's no doubt about it. But you have to be better. We all have to be better.”
