For Austin FC fans, the international break provided an opportunity to focus on the Texas Longhorns and a surprising and satisfying win over Alabama on a college football-heavy Saturday night.
But it also featured a few stray MLS matches — an oddity that’s actually not too uncommon during fall international breaks — which impacted the playoff race in the Western Conference.
Most notably, the Portland Timbers — due in Austin next Sunday for Verde’s return to play — got a surprising and satisfying win of their own, getting a 2-0 home victory over LAFC on the strength of two defenders’ goals. Larrys Mabiala and Claudio Bravo got the goals against an LAFC defense that looked quite shaky at times.
