Not so hot from the spot: Austin FC's 2025 penalty kick woes, explored
Certainly, you remember at least two of the PKs that Austin FC missed this season. But do you remember the ones they made?
Accessing all this Austin FC coverage is just one click away. You know what to do.
Subscribe
Certainly, you remember at least two of the PKs that Austin FC missed this season. But do you remember the ones they made?
It's not that Austin FC didn't show a desire to win on Sunday. It's just that they left themselves vulnerable to counterattacks against a team that excels at them.
Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez says his team is ready to play aggressively as they aim to extend their season at least one more match. But he also makes a case they were aggressive in a loss in which they only had two shots on target.
Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez indicated this is a team that can learn from losing. They'll have a few days to do that prior to what could be their final match of the season.
Verde finished the season with 37 goals and a -8 goal differential. But they got wins when they needed them — including a key win over San Jose preceding this rematch loss.
Saturday's loss to St. Louis City SC completed the team's first three-match losing streak since May. Verde can still make the playoffs today, but may not avoid the play-in game.
While Dani Pereira and Jon Gallagher expressed disgruntlement over the call the game turned on, team leaders wanted to focus on using this pain as further motivation for the challenges to come.
Despite wanting to clinch a trip to the playoffs on Saturday night, Verde fell short. The focus now shifts to the U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday.
Though Austin FC is focused on Saturday — and Wednesday — they also got to look to the future with a key contract extension announcement.
With three dramatic 2-1 wins in their most recent four matches, the September version of Austin FC is more fun than the version that dropped points earlier in the season.
CJ Fodrey was the hero on Wednesday night, in part because of Nico Estévez's belief in him. Also, we saw Estévez as perhaps the happiest he's been since coming to Austin.
Brendan Hines-Ike feels that some lessons from the most recent match against Dallas will serve Verde well in their match against the Loons. The winner, as you likely know by know, gets to host the U.S. Open Cup final.